Abstract
This working paper describes the innovative process in the Brazilian automotive industry, taking the Great ABC region as a research object. As a reference for the contemporary industrial organization, the automotive industry stands out as a driving force behind a diversified and complex global production chain. Thus, the industry innovation process mobilizes a strategic set of agents within the industry, with repercussions on the other sectors such as the embedded technology, mobile, among others. This paper results from a qualitative approach supported by a descriptive type of research, outlined by a multiple case study and semi-structured interviews, preceded by a documentary analysis in secondary sources. Locally developed innovations involving agents from the productive chain and in partnership with competitors were identified. Results suggest the practice of open innovation, which was confirmed in field research.
Highlights
The automotive industry has been considered one of the most intriguing productive chains since its birth
The interviews were made with 26 high qualified professionals from the automotive industry, as described below:
We present the information received from interviews with the companies Alpha, Beta, Gama and with a consultancy firm, which were consolidated for the areas of Research and Development (R&D), Engineers, Production, Sales and HR
Summary
The automotive industry has been considered one of the most intriguing productive chains since its birth. The search for efficiency was a big driver for the automotive industry development and, at first, gave birth to the mass production concept obtained with the verticalization in the automotive process (WOMACK, JONES & ROSS, 1992), adding some customization degree as a product value to the Toyota System of Production and, more recently, the concept of flexible production. Inserted in a sector of recognized demand for technical and technological capacities, the Brazilian automotive industry was notable for its creative capacity and absorption of new knowledge ,mostly due to the interaction that takes place internally and externally on a solid basis of primary knowledge (GONZALEZ & MARTINS, 2014). The Brazilian subsidiaries of some of the biggest worldwide manufacturers have adapted vehicles and parts, previously manufactured only abroad, to the economy, geography and climate of South America conditions , making them become global projects, inserted in global structures of manufacturing and assembling. (CONSONI & CARVALHO; 2006; IBUSUKI, 2011)
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