New Business Selection for a Subcontracting Company—A Case Study

Abstract

A case study involving an engineering subcontractor has been used to illustrate a methodical evolutionary approach and an ideas list approach for identifying new business. The subcontractor company was in a state of chaos, rendering it incapable of acting upon new ideas. This may be a common failing of subcontractors. As insufficient data were available to operate the models, synthetic data have been used to provide illustration. A methodical approach is preferred. It involves systematic monitoring of manufacturing, market and technological trends. Such measurements must be a part of the change management process. Evidence suggests that this works in other environments.