Mastering Engineering Service Outsourcing in the automotive industry
Mastering Engineering Service Outsourcing in the automotive industry Mastering Engineering Service Outsourcing in the automotive industry
22 | Market study In terms of operating models, ESO providers can be clustered into three different approaches (see figure 9). As a reaction to the differentiated demand of their clients, ESO providers developed distinct operating models: a) Pure-play labor contracting b) Outsourced or offshored work package contracting c) Outsourced operation of a captive development center for OEM/OES The first operating model type, "labor contracting", embodies the beginning of the engineering outsourcing industry. Since its establishment and very much until today, lending engineers to clients who are in need of short-term R&D capacity expansion has been the backbone of the entire ESO industry. Clients get access to a vast engineering workforce that can be integrated just as well as actual employees. The crucial advantage is the fact that the "leased engineers" do not represent fixed costs (as own employees would), but can be more easily hired or reduced as R&D capacity needs require. This extra flexibility is a major selling point for ESO companies. The second operating model type, "work package contracting", is an enhancement of labor contracting. Instead of merely supplying engineers to OEMs/OESs, why shouldn't the ESO provider be able to deliver entire projects by itself? In this model, the ESO provider essentially takes on the role of a "classical supplier". The client specifies exactly what result is expected by when and at what price, and the ESO provider is responsible for delivering this result. How many resources are used to complete the project is up to the provider. As mentioned before, this gives the ESO company the opportunity to realize higher profits while the client is able to delegate responsibility for certain projects and focus on the few issues that matter most to him. Most ESPs offer a mixture of above mentioned operating models, but there are still some typical examples where a certain operating model is especially well suited for a particular assignment. For example, clients might want to have dedicated personnel working in an offshore location to prevent knowledge spillovers and general IP protection problems, or because they don't believe that the level of experience of external personnel is high enough. At the same time, the client might be aware of the difficult working conditions in the chosen country and want to avoid organizational difficulties in establishing the R&D center.
23 | Mastering Engineering Service Outsourcing in the automotive industry Using an ESO provider as a "facility operator" would thus be a suitable operating model. The ESO company can provide the office and laboratory space and help overcome administrative hurdles by taking over HR management. The client is able to reap two-fold benefits: the R&D center is run smoothly but does not require excessive management capacity by the client. On the other hand he can be certain that only his own, contracted personnel works in this center. Such an operating model is exemplified by KPIT Cummins operating an engineering facility for Continental in Bangalore, India. Cooperations of this kind usually take as much as one and a half to two years before reaching full operational performance.
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22 |<br />
Market study<br />
In terms of operat<strong>in</strong>g models, ESO providers can be clustered <strong>in</strong>to three<br />
different approaches (see figure 9). As a reaction to <strong>the</strong> differentiated<br />
demand of <strong>the</strong>ir clients, ESO providers developed dist<strong>in</strong>ct operat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
models:<br />
a) Pure-play labor contract<strong>in</strong>g<br />
b) Outsourced or offshored work package contract<strong>in</strong>g<br />
c) Outsourced operation of a captive development center for OEM/OES<br />
The first operat<strong>in</strong>g model type, "labor contract<strong>in</strong>g", embodies <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of <strong>the</strong> eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g outsourc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry. S<strong>in</strong>ce its establishment and very<br />
much until today, lend<strong>in</strong>g eng<strong>in</strong>eers to clients who are <strong>in</strong> need of short-term<br />
R&D capacity expansion has been <strong>the</strong> backbone of <strong>the</strong> entire ESO <strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />
Clients get access to a vast eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g workforce that can be <strong>in</strong>tegrated<br />
just as well as actual employees. The crucial advantage is <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong><br />
"leased eng<strong>in</strong>eers" do not represent fixed costs (as own employees would),<br />
but can be more easily hired or reduced as R&D capacity needs require.<br />
This extra flexibility is a major sell<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t for ESO companies.<br />
The second operat<strong>in</strong>g model type, "work package contract<strong>in</strong>g", is an enhancement<br />
of labor contract<strong>in</strong>g. Instead of merely supply<strong>in</strong>g eng<strong>in</strong>eers to<br />
OEMs/OESs, why shouldn't <strong>the</strong> ESO provider be able to deliver entire<br />
projects by itself? In this model, <strong>the</strong> ESO provider essentially takes on<br />
<strong>the</strong> role of a "classical supplier". The client specifies exactly what result is<br />
expected by when and at what price, and <strong>the</strong> ESO provider is responsible<br />
for deliver<strong>in</strong>g this result. How many resources are used to complete <strong>the</strong><br />
project is up to <strong>the</strong> provider. As mentioned before, this gives <strong>the</strong> ESO<br />
company <strong>the</strong> opportunity to realize higher profits while <strong>the</strong> client is able<br />
to delegate responsibility for certa<strong>in</strong> projects and focus on <strong>the</strong> few issues<br />
that matter most to him.<br />
Most ESPs offer a mixture of above mentioned operat<strong>in</strong>g models, but <strong>the</strong>re<br />
are still some typical examples where a certa<strong>in</strong> operat<strong>in</strong>g model is especially<br />
well suited for a particular assignment. For example, clients might want to<br />
have dedicated personnel work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> an offshore location to prevent knowledge<br />
spillovers and general IP protection problems, or because <strong>the</strong>y don't<br />
believe that <strong>the</strong> level of experience of external personnel is high enough. At<br />
<strong>the</strong> same time, <strong>the</strong> client might be aware of <strong>the</strong> difficult work<strong>in</strong>g conditions<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> chosen country and want to avoid organizational difficulties <strong>in</strong><br />
establish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> R&D center.