Collaborative Manufacturing in a Virtual Manufacturing Environment 2002-21-0010

Johnson Controls (JCI) has developed a unique virtual manufacturing model that allows the company to add the most value to its products by focusing its energies on what it does best. JCI has developed a long-standing partnership with Jabil Circuit to produce much of it’s North American automotive electronics. The partnership continues to evolve as technologies and the competitive landscape changes. In the not too distant past, not being vertically integrated was sometimes viewed negatively in the automotive environment. Now, thanks to Michael Dell and the success of electronic contract manufacturers, the model is viewed as a viable and sometimes preferable business model.