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Over the past two decades Wales has been relatively successful in attracting inward investment, and in developing industrial clusters in automotive components and electronics. However the Welsh economy, in general, is still relatively weak in several areas thought to be important to long term regional competitiveness, such as education, entrepreneurship, and notably, research and development (R&D) (Brooksbank and Pickernell, 1998).This paper examines R&D and more specifically New Product Development (NPD) in the Welsh first tier automotive component industry (i.e. those component firms supplying directly to the vehicle assemblers). In this industry NPD is becoming increasingly important as a means of achieving competitive differentiation. Vehicle manufacturers are focusing on their core competencies, transferring significant responsibility for component design and development to their first tier supply base (Rhys, 1996). This transfer of responsibility has important implications for these firms and their local economies. For example Sleigh (1991: p6) notes "success will be dependent on the determination to pursue R&D on an increased scale. Not to do so could deprive a component manufacturer of its ability to grow or even survive". |
