cameron county/matamoros - blue - The University of Texas at ...

UTB-CBIRD Report: “At The Crossroads” Economic Development 102
The only way for Mexican-US border Maquiladoras to compete is through
more value-added and flexible manufacturing and more just-in-time
manufacturing. For this to occur, light manufacturing clusters need to be
developed by leading industries such as electronics, plastics, and steel
stamping, supported by industries such as software, design and logistics,
along with an adequate infrastructure provided by industrial parks and
quality technical education as well as more efficient transportation and
logistics.
Maquiladoras can be competitive in the global economy if their production
and manufacturing operations are assisted with adequate financial
support, new technology development, and marketing – these three are
needed in addition to quality production and manufacturing. The fastest
way to grow is through joint ventures with other companies for access to
technology, markets, and capital.
Rolando Gonzalez-Barron, President
Cansejo Nacional de Maquiladoras de Exportacion de Mexico (CNM)
August 2002
GOBAR SYSTEMS 1: Growing a Binational Manufacturing Cluster
When brothers Rolando and Abelardo Gonzalez created GOBAR SYSTEMS to
manufacture steel stamping parts in 1984 the general idea was to supply parts
to US automobile manufacturers. In 1986, in order to fulfill a contract with
General Motors GOBAR formed an alliance with Dayton, Ohio-Based Select Tool
and Die Corporation. Together with principal stockholder, Bob Whited, they
formed a new company named Industrias GOBAR in Matamoros and began
stamping metal components for GM, such as steering wheels, dashboards, and
defrosted grills for air conditioners. In 1988, manufacturing operations
expanded to supply all the metallic radio components to Deltronics. In 1990,
Gonzalez-Withed (GW) formed another company within GOBAR SYSTEMS to add
value to the manufacturing operations by assembling metal stamped pieces
through robotic welding in an automated cell manufacturing system to
manufacture air bag canisters for Autolive, Delphi, TRW, and RIMIR to the order
of about 3,300,000 pieces a year.
To support the technical training and increased manufacturing and to facilitate
the development of new designs and tools, GOBAR SYSTEMS bought 50% of a
company named High Tech that was located in Austin, Texas. The company is
staffed with US trained engineers and managers most of whom had worked
many years at IBM specializing in computerized product and manufacturing
design. On the one hand, this alliance has helped accelerate the design and
manufacturing software learning curve of GOBAR’s engineering and design
departments. On the other hand, High Tech has the benefit of GOBAR’s
manufacturing capabilities and financial resources. This alliance allows both
companies to compete not only in design, but also in prototype manufacturing,
and in producing sophisticated manufacturing machinery for the electronics
market.
Almost all of GOBAR’s engineers have received their degrees from Matamoros
Tech; however, Rolando insists that they also receive two years of on-the-job
1 The GOBAR SYSTEMS case was developed during several interviews with Rolando Gonzalez-Barron,
President, Cansejo Nacional de Maquiladoras de Exportacion de Mexico (CNM), conducted by
Professor Pablo Rhi Perez, College of Business, UTB/TSC during summer and fall 2002.
Una Region -- Un Futuro
Integration into a
cluster type
organization through
strategic alliances with
world-class firms
specializing in
innovation are the
strategic competencies
of GOBAR SYSTEMS.