FOR SUBCONTRACTORS
Co-author of the report, researcher Talvikki Välimaa from the University of Turku,
notes that work for the report was started
in March 2015.
”The Brahea Centre’s Merilogis project
had been ongoing since 2013. The project
brought to our attention the fact that many
small operators in the maritime and logistics industries were in need of new kinds of
work orders but were lacking in networking experience,” she recounts.
”The new report outlines what is
required of maritime subcontractors of
today. Being a subcontractror is no easy task
– but not an impossible one. It is not all
about being cost-efficient. There are other
factors that determine who can succeed.”
One crucial point is process management.
”The Finnish maritime industry has
lived through times of rapid change. This
has resulted in increased networking, and
now things seem to be changing for the
better for the industry.”
”However, there is really nothing new
in the networking of subcontractors. Shipbuilders tend to delegate more and more
work to subcontractors, all the while keeping control of the entirety of the shipbuilding process,” Välimaa mentions.
GO-GETTERS GET THE JOBS
Even though many Finnish subcontractors
in the maritime cluster are experienced and
skilled, not all of them are yet taking part
in international networks.
”It seems that especially the larger
subcontractor companies have taken their
share of the export markets, partly due to
compelling circumstances,” says Välimaa.
Obviously, active and energetic subcontractors have been the ones most likely
to succeed abroad. Being too shy or unassuming is not recommended.
”When you are a new operator in the
maritime clus \