Assignment help

[TwinTurbot]

Been set an assignment that requires a SWOT analysis to be undertaken (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) that a UK-based SME within the automotive industry would face, and if it considered to have parts of its production done in either China or Vietnam.


If any know of any companies that would be directly relevant to this question then please inform me.

[Swanny87]

There's got to be boatloads of UK companies that make parts for cars manufactured in the UK. I know Nissan in Sunderland are very hot on utilising local business to make parts for their UK cars. Whether they considered using Chinese or Vietnamese labour is something I don't know unfortunately...

[yorkshireegg]

At JLR, and I would assume a lot of companies now (see above), there is a focus on local parts manufacturing to reduce carbon footprints and aid lean manufacturing ethos' like JIT and waste reduction. So our suppliers are mostly Midlands firms with local manufacturing plants.

I don't work in purchasing or supply chain in any way, so my knowledge on suppliers is limited but a few that I do know of:-

CAB Automotive - Seats / upholstery
Walsall Pressings - They make pressings, surprisingly
Brembo for uprated brakes - probably a likely candidate for the overseas manufacture discussion, might be worth looking into

Are you just interested in parts manufacturers or manufacturing equipment suppliers, too? I could probably tell you more about the latter.