Abstract
This chapter provides readers with specifics of complexity in engineering, delivering, and constructing of industrial plants while working in different countries. Export-oriented companies in mechanical and plant engineering businesses with long supply chains face huge challenges in considering different technical requirements for different types of equipment and for different services and procedures they provide, which lead to time and cost inefficiency. In modern times with different economic, social, and environmental requirements on the one hand and challenges caused by globalization, digitalization, and worldwide climate change; on the other, it is vital to find the ways for more sustainable project management and sustainable business models and to inspire global players to consider sustainability development goals and to become an innovator to drive the others: the suppliers, the clients, and other stakeholders. The first step towards sustainable engineering processes in the globalized world is the harmonization of technical regulations worldwide.
TopIntroduction
Different aspects of our modern lives as well as businesses are nowadays on a very high globalized level. To work globally, to be influenced by global partners, to deal with global clients and suppliers, to be open to the new –is the way companies make progress today. The world is changing fast. Global manufacturing and dealing with international companies have become usual and common for lots of industries and companies, and sometimes even essential to survive. Efficiency of all processes of a global acting firm is one of the central arguments in favor of globalization1. Another positive influence of globalization is the possibility for local companies and local staff to get better paid jobs, to learn new skills and new technology and therefore globalization contributes to the fourth SDG: Quality Education in poorer countries. But there are of course also a lot of challenges to conduct their work more efficiently and the way they would like: cultural differences, acceptance of own approaches, local regulation. It is also very important for companies to become flexible in order to react quickly to demands of clients and society. In such cases we speak about lean management in introduction new products, new services or just converting the old ones to the new environments. The process might start with just an increase in exports or global sourcing, followed by a small international representation office, growing into a multinational manufacturing organization2. But every company and every business, doesn´t matter, whether it is just one delivery or establishment of a daughter company have to deal with issues of the international trade barriers.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Engineering Companies: Companies creating new industrial plants by designing the layout, choosing the right technology, calculating and planning the right equipment for the processes and given raw materials.
International Business: Company´s activities in selling and buying goods or services for/from different countries.
Standardization: The process of making things of the same kind, including products and services, have the same basic features and the same requirements.
Sustainability: The issue of being able to continue over a period of time and consider requirements and concerns of social, economic and environmental kind of every generation.
Harmonization of Norms and Standards: Bringing different regulations of different countries, unions and regions to the same or similar meaning by eliminating huge differences and misunderstandings.
Technical Barriers: Some obstacles for technical goods and services that prevent countries and companies from delivering or starting activities in a particular region.
Technical Compliance: Confirmation with particular requirement of technical kind or and for technical product and service, the act of obeying a particular technical rule, norm, standard or law and of acting according to the requirements for technical products.
Technical Regulation: An official authority rule or the act of controlling market introduction and putting into operation of technical devices.