Tianjin Motor Dies Co. Ltd.: The Digital Transformation of an Automotive Supplier

Tianjin Motor Dies Co. Ltd. (or “Tian Qi Mo”; TQM) was a China-based automotive technology supplier that specialized in the research and development (R&D), design, manufacturing, and distribution of automotive body panel dies, welding tools, and automobile body stamping fixtures. Although TQM had struggled during China’s reform toward a market economy, the company’s persistent focus on and investment in R&D, innovation, and technology enabled it to survive and thrive, eventually growing to become an industry leader in China. A key pillar of the company’s strategy was information technology (IT). The company’s focus on IT had enabled it to establish a solid foundation for growth. In today’s age of digital disruption, TQM sought to leverage IT to transform its traditional product-based business model into a hybrid model that included not only products but also a platform that enabled different stakeholders in the automotive industry to transact and collaborate. The vision was promising, but TQM faced many challenges in its implementation.