Geographically Dispersed Manufacturing Networks within Project-Driven Companies: A Case Study in the Investment Goods Sector

Due to the increasing interdependency within companies and their units, employees depend on an international and, sometimes, messy network of people and companies in order to execute their job. One important focus of such interfaces is the creation of international manufacturing systems. Based on a detailed case study, this paper discusses the idiosyncrasies of the Investment Goods Sector regarding company structure in general and the manufacturing net-work in specific. It suggests that international interfaces within process flow and product parts might be underestimated, especially if flexible and temporary organisations are to be built and units are inter-dependent. Finally, it argues that one of the main characteristics of the investment goods sector, the flexibility in pooling temporary organisations, is one important competence within many international companies; and this competence lies at the heart of project management function.