Remanufacturing in the Heavy Vehicle Industry—Case Study of a Finnish Machine Manufacturer

This study analyses remanufacturing operations of a Finnish heavy vehicle manufacturer with global operations. The company has remanufactured and refurbished certain components for a decade in a centralised remanufacturing and recycling centre in Finland, but it has encountered significant challenges, especially in reverse logistics. The company considers regional remanufacturing to decrease these disadvantages. The purpose of this study is to analyse the characteristics, challenges and benefits of regional remanufacturing by reviewing the relevant literature and analysing the empirical data, including a survey for international subsidiaries of the case company to determine regional needs. As a result, we have identified significant benefits, especially related to minimised logistics costs and better availability of the components, but also challenges, such as lack of resources, and insufficient economies of scale.

Assessment of the kinetics of changes in selected physicochemical indicators of engine oil in operation

The article presents the results of operational tests of engine oil, including the observation of changes in the values of selected physicochemical parameters of oil in subsequent operation cycles, in accordance with the service life specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Preliminary analysis of defined indicators characterizing the condition of engine oil were performed in terms of their suitability for the ongoing monitoring of the technical condition of the engine. On the basis of the values of selected indicators of fresh oil recorded in the course of operational tests and during replacement, one indicator was selected, the kinematic viscosity at 100°C, for which an unambiguous trend of changes was observed during the tests. The last stage was to verify the hypothesis about the correlation between the observed changes in the value of the indicator and the mileage of the engine – vehicle.

Regulatory and Technical Constraints: An Overview of the Technical Possibilities and Regulatory Limitations of Vehicle Telematic Data

A telematics device is a vehicle instrument that comes preinstalled by the vehicle manufacturer or can be added later. The device records information about driving behavior, including speed, acceleration, and turning force. When connected to vehicle computers, the device can also provide additional information regarding the mechanical usage and condition of the vehicle. All of this information can be transmitted to a central database via mobile networks. The information provided has led to new services such as Usage Based Insurance (UBI). A range of consultants, industry commentators and academics have produced an abundance of projections on how telematics information will allow the introduction of services from personalized insurance, bespoke entertainment and advertise and vehicle energy optimization, particularly for Electric Vehicles (EVs). In this paper we examine these potential services against a backdrop of nascent regulatory limitations and against the technical capacity of the devices. Using a case study approach, we examine three applications that can use telematics information. We find that the expectations of service providers will be significantly tempered by regulatory and technical hurdles. In our discussion we detail these limitations and suggest a more realistic rollout of ancillary services.

The linkage between competitive intelligence and competitive advantage in emerging market business: A case in the commercial vehicle industry

To achieve competitive advantage (CA) in emerging markets (EM) firms aresuggested to increase market orientation, using competitive intelligence (CI) as a source toincrease firm performance. However, in-depth linkage between CA and CI, as well as itsawareness/culture and process/structure constructs, has been researched and understood onlyin a limited way in general and for EM business in particular. This paper gives in-depthclarification of six research questions relating to the connection between CI, its constructs andCA for EM business as well as how CI as a product/process could be adapted for a larger impacton CA. It reports on a qualitative, document and interview data based in-depth single case studyat a CI department of a European Union (EU) commercial vehicle manufacturer engaging inEM business. It finds that overall the linkage of CI for CA was traceable and transparent tousers/generators of CI in the specific case with ambiguously perceived limitations, andinfluenced by seven identified factors. Seven out of eight pre-identified CI constructs werepromoted but also heterogeneously understood as contributing to CA, with no other relevantconstructs identifiable. Adaptions for more impact on CA were recommended for CI as a productin a limited sense, and as a process with eight potential levers more comprehensively. Theseresults help businesses to improve CI, its constructs, its products and process for a betterlinkage to CA and firm performance.

TESLA VERTICAL INTEGRATION STRATEGIES: THEORY, PRACTICE, RESULTS

The purpose of this article is to disclose the content of vertical integration strategies using Tesla as an example. In the theoretical part, the typology of integrated growth strategies is considered, and the feasibility of their application is substantiated. The practical part presents the experience of using such strategies with the Tesla electric vehicle manufacturer in the turbulent environment of the company.