Ready to drive [automotive industry]

Automotive OEMs have realised that most of the time key processes involving vehicle engineering development, release and validation of vehicle engineering information are costly and time consuming for a relatively small number of models. However, especially costly are the manufacturing adaptations to the manufacturing facilities (tooling and gauging). With full-service-vehicle (FSV) supply model, a very successful way of capturing value (high profits) while minimising vehicle development expenditures is represented. FSV suppliers are responsible for complete vehicle development. The collaboration between OEMs and FSV suppliers could be labelled as incremental process innovation for the OEMs. The involvement of FSVS and the links between OEMs, FSV suppliers and parts suppliers are demonstrated in the paper.