The team that Rolls-Royce put together to oversee the integration of Rolls-Royce's and Vickers' marine businesses included someone with a specific brief for looking at quality issues. A comprehensive review of quality systems in place within Vickers' businesses was conducted. They were found to conform with Rolls-Royce's high standards.
2.2 Technical Cooperation
Work is currently underway relating to the development of a Bergen C diesel engine, in collaboration with Hyundai of Korea.
Some of the company's Allen design engines are produced under licence in Japan, but these are only used in land-based applications.
As gas turbines are a core Rolls-Royce technology, the Group is very cautious about granting licences to other companies for the production of gas turbines. The exception is Kawasaki Heavy Industries which has produced Allison gas turbines on behalf of the Japanese Defence Agency. Discussions are currently taking place concerning a similar agreement with Kawasaki HI to produce the WR21 gas turbine under licence in Japan.
2.3 After Sales Service
Prior to its acquisition by Rolls-Royce, VUMS intended to establish more overseas workshops capable of undertaking local repair work and had been assessing locations at which spare parts could be stocked in order to reduce response times and improve service levels for customers. The company also believed that its newly extended product range would justify the establishment of offices in parts of the world where it had not previously been viable for either Vickers or Ulstein to have a presence on their own.
At the same time however it rationalised parts of its network. In Germany the VUMS offices in Hamburg and Bremen were merged, with operations concentrated in Hamburg where the company also has workshop facilities, equipped for the repair of thrusters, winches, steering gears and hydraulic motors and pumps. VUMS operations in Poland and West Russia were also under review.
Rolls-Royce has done little to change the Global Support Network inherited from Vickers. It has however been able to supplement this network with its own network of offices around the world. Rolls-Royce's aim is to provide customers with a single point of contact at local level who is either a native or who understands the culture and can speak the language of the customer's country. In addition they must take on responsibility for dealing with all relevant parts of Rolls-Royce on their behalf.
