Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone
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About
What happens when you bring the best of two famous brands together? What sorts of innovations can emerge, and how is a brand image created for the new product? The Smart car came about as a result of a collaboration between car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, the Swiss watch maker. This album examines the innovations behind the Smart car, its supply chain, and its assembly line in Hambach, France, where a finished car is produced every 96 seconds. With its major suppliers situated on the same site, Smart can rapidly assemble a good value customisable car which is both pioneering and appealing. This material forms part of The Open University Course T882 Supply chain innovation, strategy and management.
Smart thinking
Introducing the funky customisable Smart car, the result of a partnership between Mercedes and Swatch watches
Smartville
How the innovations continue at Smart's factory, and how the brand image is built
Behind the brand
The radical re-thinking of the car assembly process and its supply chain, along with 12 on site component suppliers
Innovating the aftermarket
The servicing and selling of Smart cars to customers is also revolutionised, combining the best of Swatch and Mercedes' brand values