Delphi Delco Electronics Systems:Global Best Practice Sharing & Knowledge ManagementIndustry & Competitive AnalysisOverall Performance and TrendsThe Auto Parts industry includes original equipment parts manufacturers (OEM), after-market parts manufacturers, and tire producers. For an industry faced with layoffs, plant idlings and downward price pressures, Auto Parts industry still maintained a fair top-line growth rate during last their years (see table and graph below and Exhibit 1). However, their profits are hurting across the manufacturing chain (Exhibit 1 cont.). The major reasons are a decline in vehicle production and the constant cost-cutting strategy of big-three automakers. These problems let some supplier to file for bankruptcy or be shaken out of business.Leaders Performance in 3 Yr.5.7-48.0489.84ROE (%)-100.9-30847.7Net income growth (%)5.7-7.648.3Sales growth (%)AverageLowHigh3-yr The most important trends are concentrated on consolidation and globalization. Intensified competition is pushing a massive industry consolidation. Not only OEMs are reducing their Tie 1 suppliers, but also these first Tie suppliers are cutting their own suppliers. Bigger firms would have ability to provide “module” instead of single parts, and also could spend more on research and engineering. After a decade of cost cutting pressed by automakers, suppliers have a little room to maneuver in domestic market. Instead, they are expanding to international markets. They hope this diversified market portfolio would have them survive under soft US economy. E-Business in Auto Parts IndustryAs far as e-commerce is concerned, Tier 1 firms will heavily invest in electronic business, and will expect a lot in return. Outsourcing, intense competition and modular systems have all contributed to major auto parts suppliers using Web based collaborative technology or even e-manufacturing systems. They hope that e-business would provide benefit over a very wide range of activities. Hence coordination will be strengthened across multiple tiers of suppliers. So the e-commerce will continue to be prevalent on the OEM and Tier one level. As a result, a lot of OEM/Tie1 companies will require not only their selves but also their suppliers to become e-business capable cross a wide range of business processes. But the barriers of implementing e-business capability have not a common understanding yet. Table 1 exhibited the E-business application in Auto Parts Industry in a general level. The “Application Rate” in this table refers to how many companies in Auto Parts Industry have already implemented a certain E-business applications. To date, the web-based systems are the major e-commerce technologies used in this industry. These tools cover three major areas: manufacturing procurement, collaborative and engineering, demand planning or Inventory management. Table 2 is the detailed breakdown of Current E-business application in Auto Parts Industry.Among these traditional competitors of Delphi, most of them put ignorant effects on both the strategic, tactical and the operational level of E-business. Although Covisint, an online auction company built by big 3, only has around 50 registered companies of the auto industrys 30,000 suppliers. The majority of those members are primary, or tier 1 suppliers. As the rival companies of Delphi, Aana Corp., Federal-Mogul Corp. and ArivnMeritor Inc. presented as E-business pursuers. For example, Dana has already implemented a well-built e-business program, which included e-Source package from i2 technologies and e-Procurement buyer software from Ariba Inc. This system effectively helps Dana manage inventory, direct purchasing and FreeMarkets auction. Another auto parts supplier Federal Mogul has signed a contract with Blue 292 to implement a Blue 292 Web-based environment. The company will deliver its EHS Management System via the Internet to Federal Moguls 150 worldwide facilities. ArvinMeritor had launched its e-category system providing a new online product literature ordering process for its customers, making it the first major drive train component manufacture to offer this convenience. Its really hard to judge which one has most advantaged e-commerce system. However, Dana Corp. seems to be in the front line in term of appliance of sound e-commerce model. Overall, as the controversy relationships between OEMs and auto parts suppliers grow ever more complex, along with more interaction between different tiers, E-business is thought as a right direction and will provide new strategies and tools for auto parts suppliers. On the same taken, E-business is also becoming a hot spot to compete for. In a foreseeable future, the direction of E-business in Auto Parts Industry should be the continued system integration of supply chain, custo