Introducing the Electronic Knowledge Framework into the Traditional Automotive Suppliers’ Industry: From Mechanical Engineering to Mechatronics

Abstract

The automotive sector is undergoing radical changes. New trends such as electrification, autonomous driving, connectivity, and car-sharing—to name a few—are disturbing the carmakers, which must satisfy their clients while meeting the increasingly strict environmental regulations. This pressure also falls on automotive parts suppliers, which now are asked to manufacture high-added-value integral systems, while struggling to keep a very adjusted price. As traditional automotive components evolve into electronic systems, suppliers must gain digital mastery to remain competitive. This paper presents different ways of introducing e-skills in a company and illustrates this with some examples from the Basque automotive industry. The aim is to encourage corporations to take the step towards digitalization, providing different options for them to choose the one that best suits their current scenario. For this study we have analyzed the literature and the press releases of the component manufacturers and interviewed staff from some of them. This research seeks to provide solutions so that the automotive sector remains competitive, as it is a strategic sector for the economy and employment.