A responsividade aglutina princípios calcados em produtividade, flexibilidade e uso intensivo de tecnologia, capacitando empresas de manufatura a lidar com incertezas e operar de forma rentável no mercado globalizado. A manufatura busca na responsividade meios para sobreviver e crescer num ambiente de contínua mudança e incerteza, norteado pela concorrência global, exigências crescentes dos consumidores e avanço da tecnologia. O ciclo de expansão da indústria ainda tem fôlego para crescimento. O setor automotivo tem participação considerável na economia e gera efeito em cadeia na atividade industrial mundial. A indústria automotiva historicamente é uma precursora na reformulação de estratégias e no aprimoramento da eficácia operacional, através da adoção de tecnologias cada vez mais flexíveis e adaptáveis às oscilações do mercado competitivo. Este setor é um dos mais importantes do Rio Grande do Sul e do Brasil e sua dinâmica impõe condições responsivas às empresas. Ao assumirmos que a responsividade é o fator chave para alcançar e manter a vantagem competitiva no ambiente de manufatura, verificar como ela é utilizada, principalmente em empresas do setor automotivo, torna-se uma importante questão a ser tratada. O objetivo da pesquisa é analisar o conjunto de dimensões que representam a responsividade nas empresas de manufatura do setor automotivo. A pesquisa é qualitativa descritiva e aplicou o método de estudo de caso, através de uma investigação de casos múltiplos, realizada em quatro empresas com representatividade na cadeia automotiva do Rio Grande do Sul. A pesquisa utilizou como fontes de evidências: entrevistas, observações diretas e análise de documentos. Nas entrevistas, por se tratarem de perguntas abertas, foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo. As observações diretas, assim como a análise de documentos, ajudaram a complementar as informações obtidas nas entrevistas. Para interpretação do material obtido, foi utilizada a técnica de triangulação de dados. Inicialmente, cada empresa foi analisada individualmente, e depois houve a comparação dos casos para verificar similaridades ou diferenças para posterior produção de resultados mais confiáveis e generalizáveis. Através dos casos estudados constata-se que, apesar das diferenças de porte, nicho de atuação, valores e qualificação, entre outros, as empresas de manufatura do setor automotivo se valem de princípios comuns que resultam em ações e práticas responsivas. / The responsiveness merges principles based on productivity, flexibility and intensive use of technology, enabling manufacturing companies to deal with uncertainties and operate profitable in the global market. The manufacturing identifies in responsiveness ways to survive and grow in an environment of continuous change and uncertainty, guided by global competition, increasing on consumer demands and technology dissemination. The industry expansion cycle has yet impetus for growth. The automotive sector has considerable involvement in the economy and generates a chain effect on the global industrial activity. Historically, the automotive industry is a pioneer in strategies reformulation and operational efficiency improvement, through adoption of technologies more flexible and adaptable to fluctuations in competitive market. This sector is one of the most important for the Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul, and its dynamics imposes responsive conditions to the companies. We believe that the responsiveness is the key factor to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage in the manufacturing environment, therefore identify how it is used, mainly in automotive sector companies, is an important issue to be addressed. The objective of the present research is to analyze the set of dimensions that represent the responsiveness in manufacturing companies in the automotive industry. The qualitative descriptive research had used the “case study method” through a multiple-case study investigation, applied to four important companies of the Rio Grande do Sul automotive supply chain. This research used as evidence sources: semi-structured interviews, direct observation and documentation analysis. Open questions were applied in the interviews and the “content analysis technique” to support the interpretation. The direct observations, as well as the document analysis, helped to supplement information obtained in interviews. The data triangulation technique was used for material interpretation. Initially, each company was examined individually, and then the cases comparison to check similarities or differences to obtain more reliable and generalized results. Despite differences in organization size, performance niche, values and skills and others, the studies proved that manufacturing companies in the automotive sector have use common principles which result in responsive actions and practices.

This research focuses on the degree of implementation of modularity and module supply by the automobile manufacturers in South Africa and the benefits they experience. Special attention was paid to the effect the modularity has on the local supplier base and the ability of small South African companies to support this supply concept. Lastly the factors influencing the car manufacturers’ outsourcing decision process was uncovered. The semi-structured face to face interviews with representatives of all light vehicle manufacturing companies operating in South Africa provided rich data for setting the background for further quantitative researches. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Over recent years, international trade flows of automotive products have experienced rising trends. Thus, the need to gain a better understanding of trade theories that could explain such trade flows. Until recently, the theoretical and empirical distinction of intra-industry trade (IIT) into patterns of horizontally differentiated (by variety) intra-industry trade (HIIT) and vertically differentiated (by quality) intra-industry trade (VIIT) has become crucial because each IIT pattern may potentially be influenced in different manners by country and industry factors (Greenaway, Hine&Milner, 1995). The objective of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, to measure the empirical significance of IIT in the automobile industry between South Africa and its bilateral trading partners and to decompose total IIT (TIIT) into VIIT and HIIT patterns. Secondly, to develop empirical models to investigate potential country- and industry-specific determinants of IIT patterns in the South African automobile industry. The empirical strategy adopted in this thesis is a gravity model spanning the period 2000 to 2007. The automobile industry is a principal industrial sector in the South African economy contributing notably to trade, investment, employment and national output. The structure and conduct of the industry is aligned with several elements of IIT theories and thus represents an important and fascinating case of IIT patterns to investigate. Therefore, the findings of this thesis will be valuable to trade policy analysts and manufacturers in the local and global automotive industries. According to the objectives, the significance of IIT is estimated using the trade overlap index and the empirical separation of total intra-industry trade (TIIT) into VIIT and HIIT is conducted using the threshold method. The empirical results reveal the presence of significant levels of IIT in automotive trade flows between South Africa and its bilateral trading partners. In accordance with theoretical expectations, the empirical investigation signifies the existence of high shares of VIIT dominating TIIT in the South African automobile industry. Moreover, the empirical analysis postulates that, within VIIT, the domestic automobile industry potentially produces and exports high quality automotive products proposing that such VIIT can be partly explained by fragmentation and international production processes. Next, gravity models are estimated to investigate the determinants of IIT patterns in the automobile industry. The econometric results of the gravity models of VIIT, HIIT and TIIT are statistically and economically significant in the context of the fixed effects method of estimation and in accordance with new trade theories. The empirical results reveal that relative difference in economic size, trade openness, foreign direct investment (FDI) and tariffs stimulates VIIT, whilst distance, economies of scale and automotive assistance negatively affect it. Conversely, relative difference in economic size, FDI and automotive assistance negatively affects HIIT, whereas trade openness and depreciation of the exchange rate positively influences it. Thus, the findings of the thesis assert that IIT patterns of VIIT and HIIT in the automobile industry are influenced differently by country and industry determinants, revealing that the theoretical and empirical distinction of TIIT is important. The thesis proposes advancing trade liberalisation and deregulation of the South African automobile industry that could attract greater efficiency-seeking FDI complementary to trade and as a consequence enhance IIT levels. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Economics / unrestricted

The diploma thesis shows the status of the automotive industry in the Czech Republic. It shows the trends in the Czech automotive industry in short theoretical presentation. There is a trend of the future competition from developing countries, other problems are growing raw material prices or government's limits in CO2 production. The companies connected to the automotive industry are reacting. The relevant information about the status and reactions of the Czech automotive industry companies, especially at the time of the crisis, was gained. The work answers the main question: How will the situation look like in the Czech automotive industry after the end of the crisis.

This diploma thesis describes the main causes of the automotive crisis in the first half of 2009 and their influence on this industry in the world. It also shows the effort of selected countries to fight these consequences and to support the demand for cars. One section is also devoted to situation in Czech Republic and to one of the Czech supplier to OEM car manufacturers.

This diploma thesis deals with the comparison of developmental trends of the automotive industry in China and India most of all from the perspective of current significant changes in geographic allocation of automotive production capacities and continual attenuation of position of traditional automotive centers. The first chapter discusses economic significance of the automotive industry and related economic and environmental challenges. The second chapter is focused on impact of the globalization process on systemic and geographic organization of the automotive industry. Next chapters analyze and compare the automotive industry in China and India focused on historical predispositions and current developmental trends. The last chapter compares future potential of both countries in the global automotive industry, identifies main competitive advantages and analyzes possibilities of future development.

This master thesis deals with increasing importance of Chinese and Indian car manufacturers. The aim is to present possible ways how European manufacturers would respond to new competition from China and India. The first chapter defines theoretical basis of the thesis. The second chapter analyses in detail current situation of the European automotive industry. The third chapter focuses on development of the industry in China and similarly, there is India analysed in the fourth chapter. The last chapter presents alternative approaches of European manufacturers and their prospective adaptation to the new competition.

The paper discusses a design of a matrix LED display for car rear combination lamps and its power supply. It provides basic information about converters, light, and electronics requirements in the automotive industry. The design of individual circuits, printed circuit board, and firmware are analyzed. Predefined animations have safety, practical, and design functions. The innovative solution presents a new level of communication between the vehicle and its environment. The purpose is to increase safety and improve traffic flow.

The aim of this thesis is the exterior design of an urban electric vehicle and the implementation of technologies into the proposed design, which is promising for future applications in the automotive industry. The analytical part of this work is concerned with the history of electric vehicles, the available contemporary technologies and further analyses the visual properties of electric vehicles. The design of the electric vehicle is presented in the practical part. The shape and the composition of the vehicle is described in detail, and further the applied technologies, ergonomics and design elements of the electric car are presented.

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