PUBLISHER
PubliCo Oy
Pälkäneentie 19 A
FI-00510 HELSINKI
Phone
+358 9 686 6250
Fax
+358 9 685 2940
[email protected]
www.publico.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Mirkka Rytilahti
editorial
seatec 2007
PROJECT MANAGER
Risto Valkeapää
ART DIRECTOR
Leena Turtia
COVER PHOTO
Jouni Saaristo
PRINTED BY
Forssan Kirjapaino Oy, February 2007
PubliCo is a member of
the European Association
of Directory and Database
Publishers (EADP), ensuring
quality and reliability for
advertisers and users.
All rights reserved. This publication may not be
used in whole or in part to prepare or compile
other directories or mailing lists without the written permission of the publisher. Measures have
been taken in the preparation of this publication
to assist the publisher protect its copyright. Any
unauthorized use of the data herein will result in
immediate legal proceedings.
2
seatec 2007
COMPETITIVE BUSINESS SYSTEM WORKS IN
SHIPBUILDING
“The best way of predicting the future is to create it.” So says Yrjö Julin,
Managing Director of Aker Yards´ business division Cruise&Ferries. The company currently comprises three shipyards and a cabin factory in Finland, two
shipyards and a cabin factory in France, and life cycle service activities with a
subsidiary in the USA.
“Aker Yards is acting on the assembly yard principle,” says Julin, ”meaning
that in addition to the company’s own personnel, several partner companies are
involved in creating a vessel. In Finland, we now have 600 supplier companies
- in France, 900. At the height of activity one yard may host over 2,000 of
our own employees and an equal number of partner employees. Production
can even take place in three countries simultaneously. Our core competence is
managing such a complex shipbuilding operation.”
Some 6-7 years ago, Julin had no history in the maritime industry. He did,
however, have a long experience in the metal industry, a lot of creative ideas
and good timing in starting his shipbuilding career.
Today, he is a key figure in one of Europe’s most competitive and dynamic
shipbuilding groups. Cruise&Ferries combines the long traditions of Finnish and
French shipbuilding, benefiting from a unique design competence and strong
industrial synergies. Aker Yards has built – or is currently building – all 14 of
the world’s largest cruise ships.
In February 2007, the company signed contracts worth EUR 6.5 billion, to
include nine cruise vessels and 11 ferries. In addition, option agreements have
been signed with Royal Caribbean, MSC, NCL, Stena Line and Color Line.
One of Julin’s key ideas is that the primary goal in business is not to employ
people, but to create a system that employs them. In this issue we will cover
the Finnish companies that are the part of such an excellent system, which
appears to function well in the shipbuilding industry.
RISTO VALKEAPÄÄ