<PAGE>   1
                                   EXHIBIT 12


             MSX INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                             (dollars in thousands)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                      
                                                                     PREDECESSOR                                 FISCAL        
                                              --------------------------------------------------------            YEAR         
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31                            ENDED         
                                              --------------------------------------------------------         DECEMBER 28,    
                                                  1993           1994           1995           1996              1997          
                                              -----------    ------------   -----------     ----------        -------------    
<S>                                           <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>               <C>              
Earnings before income taxes and 
   fixed charges:
     Income from continuing operations
       before income taxes                    $     6,997    $      8,540   $    10,240     $    6,620        $     (2,748)    
                                                                                                                               
     Add interest on indebtedness, net                308             920         1,470          1,310              12,400     
     Add amortization of debt expense                   -               -             -              -                   -     
     Add estimated interest factor                                                                                             
       for  rentals                                 2,054           1,800         2,733          1,800               5,867     
                                              -----------    ------------   -----------     ----------        ------------     
                                                                                                                               
Earnings before income taxes and                                                                                               
   fixed charges                              $     9,359    $     11,260   $    14,443     $    9,730        $     15,519     
                                              ===========    ============   ===========     ==========        ============     
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
Fixed charges:                                                                                                                 
     Interest on indebtedness                 $       308    $        920   $     1,470     $    1,310        $     12,400     
     Amortization  of debt expense                      -               -             -              -                   -     
     Estimated interest factor for rentals          2,054           1,800         2,733          1,800               5,867     
                                              -----------    ------------   -----------     ----------        ------------     
                                                                                                                               
                                              $     2,362    $      2,720   $     4,203     $    3,110        $     18,267     
                                              ===========    ============   ===========     ==========        ============     
                                                                                                                               
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                    4.0             4.1           3.4            3.1                 (a)  


<CAPTION>
                                                 FISCAL         
                                               NINE MONTHS
                                                  ENDED
                                               SEPTEMBER 28,
                                                  1998
                                              --------------
<S>                                           <C>           
Earnings before income taxes and 
   fixed charges:
     Income from continuing operations
       before income taxes                    $     3,249
                                                  
     Add interest on indebtedness, net             12,666
     Add amortization of debt expense                 310
     Add estimated interest factor                
       for  rentals                                 4,528
                                              --------------
Earnings before income taxes and                  
   fixed charges                              $    20,753
                                              --------------
                                                  
                                                  
Fixed charges:                                    
     Interest on indebtedness                 $    12,666
     Amortization  of debt expense                    310
     Estimated interest factor for rentals          4,528
                                              --------------
                                              $    17,504
                                              --------------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                    1.2

</TABLE>

                                                                                
                                                                                
(a) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $2.7 million for the
fiscal year ended December 28, 1997