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European Manufacturers Need to Cut Costs by One-Third, and Development Time by Half in Order to Compete, Says New Report

IBM report calls for improvement in designers' commercial skills and a radical overhaul of procurement

26 July 2000 - Independent research, sponsored by IBM, has found that European manufacturing industry needs to cut NPI (New Product Introduction) costs by one-third and design time by half, if it is to maintain and enhance its competitive position and survive in the global market.

According to the report, which is entitled Under Pressure: NPI Fails to Perform and incorporates the views of 150 senior executives and engineering professionals from general manufacturing, aerospace and automotive companies across Europe, European manufacturing industry needs to address a number of challenges if it is to achieve these ambitious targets.

"Most importantly, designers have to acquire hard commercial skills, and companies not only need to significantly improve the quality of their procurement function - a 'Cinderella' in many companies and widely seen as holding back design - but also need to involve suppliers much more deeply in the design process," explained Phil Hanson, North European manufacturing practice leader for IBM Global Services. "These findings very much coincide with our internal research which shows significant need for new economy solutions - specifically in terms of Virtual Product Innovation [VPI] in which IBM has led the way."

The report, prepared by IBM Global Services and based on work conducted by ProLog Research, included a specific focus on NPI, an area that has been the focus of much investment and many new tools and techniques over the past decade, but that, as the survey identifies, has failed to deliver fully on expected efficiencies.

About IBM 

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable companies to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. IBM Global Services is the world's largest information technology services provider, with 1999 revenues of more than $32 billion. Services is the fastest growing part of IBM, with more than 138,000 professionals serving customers in 160 countries. IBM Global Services integrates IBM's broad range of capabilities-services, hardware, software and research-to help companies of all sizes realise the full value of information technology.

http://www.ibm.com/services

About Pro-Log 

Pro-Log Research Limited is a marketing and communications consulting firm which specialises in assisting professional services organizations to develop market dialogue.

 

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