Modularisation and outsourcing: who drives whom? A study of generational sequences in the US automotive cockpit industry

摘要: In this paper, we study the interactions between modularity and outsourcing in auto industry. Focusing on vehicle cockpit projects North America, collect data over three product architecture generations associated shifts firm boundaries for multiple processes covering development production. We find that direction of influence boundary varies across individual time, resulting a zig-zag path towards higher levels observed timeframe. The relative strength factors drive these changes appears to be dependent (a) idiosyncrasies logic processes, i.e., their cost structure, perceived strategic value, capabilities available supply chain completion, (b) relevance weight external such as labour costs, capital cost, technologies.