GROUP 4. Emerging Markets Manufacturers (including Private Labels and Spurious Sources) GROUP 3. Manufacturers from the former Soviet block GROUP1. World Class Bearing Manufacturers GROUP 2. Specialized Bearing Manufacturers • Niche players • Medium-scale corporations • Low-medium rate of vertical integration • Limited product range, but with expertise • Spotty international presence • Valuable knowledge with track record on the limited product range • Good level of R&D and innovation • Strong I.P. Activity • Operational flexibility • Focus on value-added effective solutions (product and service) • Attitude and approach based on corporate consistency for product reliability • Premium brands • Multinationals • Market leaders in the related area of main influence • Vertically integrated for the highest consistency • Comprehensive available product range with track record • Full-scale global network (production and distribution) • Top level of knowledge with tradition • Strong R&D activity • High level of innovation • Strong I.P. activity • Covering most applications (industrial, automotive, railway, avio and machine tool) • Price-oriented • Production on order without track record • Focused on domestic market for high-batch production • Short-term experience of international markets and applications • No vertical integration/mix of outsourcing • Dysfunctional organisation methods • Basic technology and material for light-duty conditions • Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes • Weak knowledge of bearing applications engineering • Weak background (e.g. formal conformity and compliance, representations and warranties) • Lack of pre and post-sales service organization • Lack of modern advanced engineering tools (copy-based engineering) • Lack of R&D and I.P. activity • Risk of discontinuity and unsustainability of production • High probability of bearing failure • Previously state-run firms • Privatized in parts or merged by premium brands • Limited level of innovation, R&D and I.P. activity • Standard product range, mainly small/medium size for common applications • Basic technology (partially upgraded) • Low level of efficiency • Discontinuity in experience and know-how due to brain drain of specialists