Life Cycle Assessment Practices: Benchmarking Selected European Automobile Manufacturers

With the rise of environmental concerns in the general public, re-appropriated by influential politicians, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a widely used set of tools for the management of all impacts on environment by industrial products. LCA is carried out at the very early stages of product research, development and design. This is particularly true in the automobile industry where vehicle manufacturers Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are launching several new or re-vamped models each year. The automobile industry is therefore a very emblematic sector for best practices of LCA. The paper is based on available literature and interviews with top LCA professionals in Germany-based OEMsLife cycle assessment; automobile; best practices

Pricing Innovation: State of the Art and Automotive Applications

The paper aims at elaborating on pricing and business models for forthcoming innovative ITS devices, limiting its scope in particular to in-vehicle driving assistance systems and suggesting the various possible innovation and pricing strategies with theoretical discussions. The methodology is based on a comprehensive literature review of the major contributions made by the fields of managerial economics and management sciences to the study of pricing strategies and practices and, in particular, the pricing of innovative goods or services, in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various schools of thought. The paper also gathers and analyzes the available data on two innovative navigation and safety devices for cars, namely ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and navigation systems, in order to put forward an initial interpretation.It concludes that there is no formula or even a vague method for determining "acceptable" price levels or "trigger points". There are two options, i.e. disruptive innovation which is by essence very risky and incremental innovation with each major model renewal.Innovation; pricing; automobile; intelligent transportation system

Life Cycle Assessment Practices: Benchmarking Selected European Automobile Manufacturers

International audienceWith the rise of environmental concerns in the general public, re-appropriated by influential politicians, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a widely used set of tools for the management of all impacts on environment by industrial products. LCA is carried out at the very early stages of product research, development and design. This is particularly true in the automobile industry where vehicle manufacturers Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are launching several new or re-vamped models each year. The automobile industry is therefore a very emblematic sector for best practices of LCA. The paper is based on available literature and interviews with top LCA professionals in Germany-based OEM

Hybrid vehicles: a temporary step

The presented paper discusses the diffusion of hybrid electric technology in vehicles. It is put into question whether the current strong acceptance of the technology especially by US consumers is of sustainable nature. Therefore, different variables influencing the diffusion of the technology are presented and their influence on the market analyzed. It is found that non-financial criteria drive consumers' buying decisions significantly.The article also presents an overview of company strategies in the field of OEMs and suppliers of hybrid electric components. It is found that most companies integrate hybrid electric vehicles in their technology portfolio. It is concluded that even though hybrid electric technology can not yet being applied profitably yet it seems to be a key technology to the industry due to its current positive perception in the US. However, diesel technology and the intelligent use of cost efficient measures to reduce fuel consumption provide sustainable alternatives.automobile; hybrid technology; innovation; strategy

Globalization: How strategic alliances bring production and market advantages. The case of Renault/Nissan

This contribution is based on a previous review (Chanaron, 1999) and a critical analysis of various literature: academic articles and books, corporate documents, consultancy reports and interviews of key industry representatives

Product development with a focus on attractive product expression: an analysis of case studies

Creating outstanding products is vital for a company's endurance in competitive markets. A mix of functionality, ergonomics, aesthetics, symbols and price aspects all play a role in making a product desirable.Some products carry a personal meaning for its user. Others communicate its user's identity or the company's brand image. This study concentrates on communicative and meaningful aspects in a product's design. It examines how the creation of a communicative design occurs during the new product development process. The present research has an exploratory nature. For the field research, the case study method was chosen and a guideline for semi-directed interviews developed. This interview guideline was used to analyse multiple product development projects in two distinct companies. In two projects, specific attention was given to communicative aspects in the product‘s design. These two projects are examined in this paper.In the two selected projects, the product development teams carefully studied the users' preferences for aesthetics and product messages. A user-centred approach was used in both development processes. The choice to purposely improve the communicative value of the product's design was on the one hand influenced by the limited possibilities to create other advantages, such as improving the product's functionality or reducing its cost price. A weakness in the competitor's design strategy allowed the successful improvement of the product's communication on the other hand.User-centred Product ; Design Management Process ; New Product Development Process ; Development Product Expression ; Product Meaning ; Product Language ; Product Value

A Benchmark for Management Effectiveness

This study presents a tool to gauge managerial effectiveness in the form of a questionnaire that is easy to administer and score. The instrument covers eight distinct areas of organisational climate and culture of management inside a company or department. Benchmark scores were determined by administering sample-surveys to a wide cross-section of individuals from numerous firms in Southeast Louisiana, USA. Scores remained relatively constant over a seven-year timeframe. Techniques for using the benchmark by practitioners are discussed.benchmarking managerial effectiveness; employee satisfaction; expectations of management; organisational climate and culture

Pricing Innovation: State of the Art and Automotive Applications

International audienceThe paper aims at elaborating on pricing and business models for forthcoming innovative ITS devices, limiting its scope in particular to in-vehicle driving assistance systems and suggesting the various possible innovation and pricing strategies with theoretical discussions. The methodology is based on a comprehensive literature review of the major contributions made by the fields of managerial economics and management sciences to the study of pricing strategies and practices and, in particular, the pricing of innovative goods or services, in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various schools of thought. The paper also gathers and analyzes the available data on two innovative navigation and safety devices for cars, namely ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and navigation systems, in order to put forward an initial interpretation.It concludes that there is no formula or even a vague method for determining "acceptable" price levels or "trigger points". There are two options, i.e. disruptive innovation which is by essence very risky and incremental innovation with each major model renewal

Globalization: How strategic alliances bring production and market advantages. The case of Renault/Nissan

This contribution is based on a previous review (Chanaron, 1999) and a critical analysis of various literature: academic articles and books, corporate documents, consultancy reports and interviews of key industry representatives.globalization ; strategic alliances ; Renault/Nissan

When Markets are Unfamiliar: Comparing the Market for Presentation Technology in the French and U.S. Legal Systems

When examining new markets for technologies, we must always remember that cultures, governments and enterprises that we encounter may be very different from those of our existing markets. If a saturation of certain technologies within certain geographical or national markets exists, exploration into yet-untapped new markets may indeed lie in areas that are unlike those with which we are most familiar.market technology ; France ; US