Spring time and internationalisation
After a long and severe winter, spring is finally here, and with all its delightful signs, we’re seeing more signals that the economic outlook is also starting to brighten. Volvo Trucks’ decision to increase production to address rising demand is one clear indicator.
Volvo Trucks used its surplus capacity very wisely during the recession, investing for increased future capacity. As a result, it's well poised for an economic recovery. Balancing cost-intensive production between cyclical upturns and downturns is one of the hardest things to do, and I think Volvo Trucks offers us some great lessons. One of the big things we've learnt from major realignments is the importance of good planning, as described in our article "be prepared when the tide turns", which offers a series of clear hints on what FM managers should be thinking about once the economy gathers pace.
We also start a new series of articles in this issue, introducing one of the year's big trends for large companies – international FM strategies. We're noting increased interest right across the Nordic region for FM solutions covering wider territories, which we view as a sign of increasing market maturity. Our article "international FM strategies – hot right now" you can read about the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies, and in future issues, we'll be writing about what people should think about when rolling out or implementing international FM strategies.
Here's looking forward to a great spring and hoping you enjoy your read,
Staffan Ebenfelt, President of Coor Sweden
