Knowledge is power

摘要

It's official: the world is shrinking; or at least that's how it seems. In a fairly short space of time, the automotive marketplace has gone from being a rather parochial affair to being truly global. OEMs that ignore the potential of overseas and emerging markets do so at their peril, although in practise, most realize only too well how valuable these markets can be. That said, exploiting overseas markets is not without its challenges, a key one being understanding the plethora of certification and approval schemes that exist. And this is not just a problem for OEMs. Increasingly, they are contracting the support of suppliers, including design and test houses, in the design, development, testing, and approval of new or re-engineered models. So all tiers of the supply chain need to have an understanding of the standards applying in their customers' export markets. Suppliers who can come to the table with a detailed knowledge of standards or who can offer test facilities appraised by a recognized approval authority will certainly have a competitive edge.