Case study

Rolls-Royce

Managing their new-car development program

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a world famous manufacturer of luxury motor cars. The company initiated a major project to replace its four-door range of Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles. This required a major change in technology from the existing vehicle; the skills and expertise of a number of external companies needed to be harnessed, together with the in-house skills of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley team. For business reasons the project needed to be implemented quickly, and a very challenging timescale was established. Strong financial constraints were also imposed. In parallel with the car development project, the company was also undertaking major change in the manufacturing facilities and production approach, was pulling out of engine production and was establishing new facilities to manufacture vehicle bodies in-house. The overall program therefore represented a major challenge to the organization.

PA provided a multi-disciplinary team initially to review and then support the project. In particular, the PA team provided skills in the management of major projects and in design, engineering and quality management. Throughout the PA team worked very closely with the Rolls-Royce management team to ensure that our findings gave a true reflection of status of the project and to get 'buy in' to the improvement and change programs put forward.

"Managing the simultaneous introduction of new facilities, working practices, management methods and new products was a major challenge for us. PA provided my team with regular, independent, unbiased views of the project status and then assisted at key 'pressure points' during the transformation. The small, highly committed PA group quickly became fully integrated in our team and I know really enjoyed passing on their experience to the team at Crewe."

Tony Gott, Member of the Board, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars