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International Journal of Technology and Globalisation

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ISSN (Print) 1476-5667 - ISSN (Online) 1741-8194
Published by Inderscience Publishers

[367 journals]

From 'aircraft manufacturer' to 'architect-integrator': Airbus's industrial organisation model
- Authors: Med Kechidi
  Pages: 8 - 22
  Abstract: The aim of this article is to show that Airbus's success can be attributed to two types of factors. First, each new aircraft model has produced a technological breakthrough in the design and manufacturing of aircraft. Secondly, Airbus's capacity to evolve their industrial organisation model in keeping with the technological transformations. In this trajectory, modularisation and outsourcing policies have played major roles. In particular, they play a major role in the emergence of new actors the pivot-firms. These firms have a critical position in management of technical and organisational interfaces between the architect-integrator and the firms participating in the design and production of aircrafts.
  Keywords: Airbus|industrial organisation|innovation|modularisation|outsourcing|pivot firms|aircraft industry|technological breakthrough|aircraft design|areospace manufacturing|technological transformation
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 8 - 22
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052028
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
Technology policy learning and innovation systems life cycle: the Canadian aircraft industry
- Authors: Majlinda Zhegu
  Pages: 23 - 40
  Abstract: This study aims to bridge the literature regarding organisational learning and the system of innovation perspective. This paper explores the dynamics of technology policy learning in an innovation systems context. Firstly, the main findings on organisational learning attributes are presented. Secondly, the process of public policy learning is discussed. Finally, a life cycle approach for analysing technology policy learning is presented for the Canadian aerospace industry. By discerning the complimentary factors among differing theoretical perspectives, this paper provides a better understanding of the process and evolution of technological policy.
  Keywords: aircraft industry|organisational learning|sectoral system of innovation|national innovation systems|technology policy learning|public policy learning|innovation systems life cycle|Canada|aerospace industry
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 23 - 40
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052029
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
Embraer and the growth of the Brazilian aircraft industry
- Authors: Anne-Marie Maculan
  Pages: 41 - 59
  Abstract: The growth path of the Brazilian aerospace industry and its competitiveness in international market are examples of a successful process of 'catching up'. However, the Brazilian aviation industry needs to deal with various vulnerability factors. The paper presents a short retrospective of the growth of the Embraer company. We describe the company's activities in its first years, the growing problems in the 1980s that led to privatisation in 1994 and Embraer's behaviour after privatisation. Particular attention is given to its technology and marketing strategy. Finally, we discuss the current challenges to the company's ability to compete.
  Keywords: Embraer|aerospace industry|Brazil|internationalisation|aircraft industry|catching up|marketing strategy|technology strategy
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 41 - 59
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052030
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
Russian aircraft industry: between forging ahead and falling behind
- Authors: Irina Boyko
  Pages: 60 - 79
  Abstract: The evolution of the Russian development model adopted by the aviation industry is described in the article, with emphasis on the advanced level of basic research and poor performance of civil aircraft manufacturing. Critical analyses of the Russian 'administrative guidance' for the industry, based predominantly on substantial government financial subsistence, is introduced in the article as a policy shortage, requiring more sophisticated strategy to be elaborated and implemented by the federal government. Without explicit industrial policy, the country's aircraft industry has been shifting from forging ahead to falling behind. Abandoning the military-oriented strategy for the development of the aircraft industry, previously pursued by the USSR, has no explicit strategic goals for the development of its civil aviation industry.
  Keywords: Russia|aircraft industry|catching up|research and development|R&D|innovation systems|institutional infrastructure|aerospace industry|civil aircraft manufacturing|government support|financial subsidies|industrial policy|industrial strategy
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 60 - 79
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052031
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
China's catching up in aerospace
- Authors: Jorge Niosi; Jing Yuan Zhao
  Pages: 80 - 91
  Abstract: Since the foundation of the People's Republic in 1949, China (PRC) has made strong efforts to build an independent aircraft industry, both civilian and military. During the first decade of its existence, the PRC received technology from the Soviet Union, while it started to build its domestic public institutions for research and teaching. After the Sino-Russian split in 1966, the flow of Soviet technology ebbed. Since 1972, the PRC started progressively to tap Western sources of technology, and is now close to launch its own commercial aircraft industry with a view to global markets. The paper analyses the strategies of the Chinese government for domestic institution building and international technology transfer, and how Western companies and governments helped China to nurture its future competitors.
  Keywords: aircraft industry|China|catching up|government support|aeropspace industry|international technology transfer|domestic institutions|institutional development
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 80 - 91
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052032
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
Evolution of the sectoral system of innovation of India's aeronautical industry
- Authors: Sunil Mani
  Pages: 92 - 117
  Abstract: India is one among the few developing countries that have sought to establish an aerospace industry. The industry has two components, namely aeronautical and astronautical. Historically speaking, India has focused much more on the astronautical part of the industry. However, in the present paper, the emphasis is on understanding the aeronautical part of the aerospace industry. We first map out the sectoral system of innovation of this industry, which is actually located as a cluster in the south Indian city of Bangalore. The paper identifies the three building blocks of the sectoral system: lead actors, knowledge or technology domain, and the demand. Changes in each of these blocks over time are discussed. The study concluded with a comparison of the performance of the sector in terms of exports and competitiveness and also delves on the policy instruments that are required for placing the industry on a sure flight path.
  Keywords: India|sectoral system of innovation|aerospace industry|aeronautical industry|astronautical industry|commercial aircraft industry|offset policy|exports|competitiveness|policy instruments
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 92 - 117
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052033
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
The lion with wings: innovation system dynamics in the aerospace industry of Singapore
- Authors: Daniel Vertesy
  Pages: 118 - 140
  Abstract: This paper investigates the emergence and growth of Singapore's aerospace manufacturing industry. Singapore is unique among latecomers in the sector, because of the continuous growth it achieved by establishing world-class component manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. We use a sectoral innovation system dynamics framework to analyse the evolution of institutions and technological capabilities in the sector. Empirical evidence on innovative and productive activities shows that a strategic choice of openness, in addition to the strong linkages between companies and between industry and government facilitated the emergence of a sectoral innovation system early on. We also find that the initial choice of specialisation and the close embeddedness of the sectoral innovation system in the national innovation system allowed Singapore to flexibly respond to global and regional crises in the sector and sustain growth.
  Keywords: aircraft industry|Singapore|catching up|sectoral systems of innovation|maintenance|repair|overhaul|MRO|innovation system dynamics|aerospace manufacturing|technological capabilities|national innovation systems
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 118 - 140
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052027
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)
Towards an aerospace system of production in Mexico?
- Authors: Javier Martínez-Romero
  Pages: 141 - 158
  Abstract: In recent years, some well-known aerospace companies have established manufacturing facilities in Mexico, a new comer to this industry. Based on the ILC-PLC theory, the objective of this work is to understand how these firms achieve the production of aircraft parts, which require specialised knowledge, in a country that has not yet developed a strong system of knowledge-producing organisations to support high technology activities. A survey applied to 30 aerospace firms in Mexico, interviews with regional development offices, and specialised magazines are the information sources of this work. The results reveal that these firms are mainly devoted to manufacturing processes, some of which are complex and require firm-external sources of knowledge. When this happens, these firms usually resort to their headquarters. Much investment is needed to create more knowledge-producing organisations targeted to the sector. For this investment to be more efficient, targeting some technical areas could be a good strategy.
  Keywords: aerospace industry|emerging economies|Mexico|industry life cycle|product life cycle|internationalisation strategies|sectoral systems of production|technology transfer|aircraft industry|high technology|high tech activities|knowledge sources
  Citation: International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013) pp. 141 - 158
  PubDate: 2013-02-10T23:20:50-05:00
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2013.052034
  Issue No: Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (2013)