De la firme sous-traitante de premier rang à la firme pivot. Une mutation de l'organisation du système productif « Airbus »

This paper analyzes the transformations of industrial vertical relationships, and more particularly the current slide of the function of first tier suppliers towards the function of intermediation. The objective is to characterize this function of intermediation, basing on the strategic segmentation of the supply chain, made by the industrial actors within the productive organization of Airbus. The argumentation articulates into three parts. The first reconsiders the nature of the vertical subcontracting relations within the framework of complex productions. The second characterizes and defines Pivot-Firm. The third part brings out the organization of the vertical relations around Pivots Firm within the the productive organization of Airbus.