Concept of international labour sourcing in industrial maintenance and installations

Abstract

In the industrial companies, the outsourcing of maintenance, repair and overhaul resources are increasing, while the companies are focusing on their core functions. The purpose of this research was to find a long-term profitable international business concept for this discovered business opportunity. The focus of the study was in hourly based resources, not, e.g. fixed price total outsourcing services or investment projects. For the success of the study, two objectives were selected. Firstly, in what way the service should function to add value to the international customer. Secondly, what is included in the business solution proposal between parties to benefit all participants in the transaction. The research was executed as action research, where the commissioning company was actively present. The conceptual basis was approached via the customer perspective because the business concept created needed to be long-term beneficial also for the customer. The primary data collection included three sources; secondary data from the commissioning company, a questionnaire for maintenance experts and theme interviews for selected five professionals, mainly the current customers of the commissioning company. These data were analysed individually with qualitative methods, steered with the research question and limitations of the research. Consequently, the analysed data were integrated into a single business concept proposal constructed from the customer point of view. The key findings were combined with a single business concept proposal for the research question. This result was a tangible concept, which can be tested and utilised in the Nordic industrial market areas. Surprisingly, the supplier role should be a tactical partnership and closer to strategical than operational, where the status would be a key supplier to the customer. Therefore, the concept requires a frame agreement to achieve its purpose. Besides, the findings indicated that a web-based tool for offering external MRO resources is a wanted solution for current needs. The created business concept was evaluated to apply to the commissioning company and others working in a similar field of business.