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Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone podcast artwork

Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone

by The Open University

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.

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Episodes

  1. Supply chains: Smart cars

    A short introduction to this album

  2. Smart thinking

    Introducing the funky customisable Smart car, the result of a partnership between Mercedes and Swatch watches

  3. Smartville

    How the innovations continue at Smart's factory, and how the brand image is built

  4. Behind the brand

    The radical re-thinking of the car assembly process and its supply chain, along with 12 on site component suppliers

  5. Innovating the aftermarket

    The servicing and selling of Smart cars to customers is also revolutionised, combining the best of Swatch and Mercedes' brand values

About this show

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.

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The Open University

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Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone have?

Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone has 10 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on December 5, 2009.

What is Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone 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...

Who hosts Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone?

Supply chains: Smart cars - for iPod/iPhone is created and hosted by The Open University.
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