The purpose of this paper is to propose a tool, the Agile Supply Chain Transformation Matrix (ASCTM), and the implementation methodology for a systematic approach to achieve agility in the supplier-buyer supply chain.
To provide a model for precise logistic controlling of one-piece flow processes and for the description of the interactions between logistic performance measures. The developed method can help manufacturing enterprises to control their production processes and therewith to exploit existing rationalization potentials in their production.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the increasingly important question of supply chain design for global operations. With the rise of off-shore sourcing and the simultaneous need for improved responsiveness to customer demand, the choice of supply chain strategy is critical. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws its conclusions from case-based research supported b…
Given volatile markets, the ability to quickly act is fundamental for companies – in regard to the internal production and to external supply flows in the value network. Related flexibility and adaptability concepts are vague and contradictory. Managerial methods either imply a generic application level or a narrow focus. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to develop a three-step approach to …
The purpose of this paper is to examine the manifold linkages connecting the Toyota Production System (TPS) back to the Gilbreths and others, and to determine how these have contributed to enterprise-wide best practice. Industrial engineering (IE) theory rapidly subsumed method study and thereby made considerable contributions to output in World War II (WWII). The outcome is the positing of “…
Notes the importance of new internal supply chains being properly interfaced with the marketplace. Suggests that the appropriate way forward is to design and implement a ``leagile supply chain''. Whereas leanness may be achieved by eliminating non-value added time, agility usually requires the additional reduction of value-added time via production technology breakthroughs. Demonstrates how th …
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impact of internal and external collaborative forecasting and planning on logistics and production performance.
Investigates performance relationships for interfunctional process integration and specific logistics interface capabilities. The results indicate that competitive advantage is more likely to emanate from interfunctional process integration rather than individual function (sub) optimization. Logistics’ unique role as a boundary spanning interface between marketing, production, and new product…
Investigates performance relationships for interfunctional process integration and specific logistics interface capabilities. The results indicate that competitive advantage is more likely to emanate from interfunctional process integration rather than individual function (sub) optimization. Logistics’ unique role as a boundary spanning interface between marketing, production, and new product…
Just‐in‐time (JIT) systems have evolved from a few selected implementations in the automobile industry into a widespread business practice. Early understanding of JIT models indicated that JIT can reduce inventory in the production system through the elimination of wasteful activities. This understanding led some researchers to suggest that JIT warehousing or JIT logistics are contradiction…
The efficiency of the container port industry has been variously studied utilising either Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) or Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Given the strengths and weaknesses associated with these two approaches, the efficiency estimates and scale properties derived from these analyses are not always convincing. This paper applies both approaches to the same set of containe…
The purpose of this paper is to investigate optimal strategic decision alternatives for Finnish pulp production companies in response to rising export tariffs on Russian roundwood. Traditionally, increasing the domestic or Russian supply to pulp mills satisfied their wood requirements. However, once this conventional strategy could no longer be implemented (in 2008), the wood requirements were …
The purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of supply chain management (SCM) on the HRM practice of suppliers. The paper argues that the performance requirement in an SCM system requires that suppliers develop specific HRM practices.
As supply chain management has become more strategic (rather than transactional) in nature the need for a more integrated perspective of how products, and processes should be aligned with strategic decisions to enhance competitive advantage has been amplified. The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of how this alignment should be done.
Firms operating in an international environment face a host of uncertainties that make it difficult to meet deadlines reliably. To be reliable in an uncertain and changing environment, firms must be able to quickly respond to changes. The ability to do this in a useful time frame is called agility. Unfortunately, measures taken to increase agility often lead to increases in complexity, which wo…
Automated warehouse equipment is often regarded as being inflexible, and yet its use continues to rise even though markets are becoming increasingly volatile. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons for, and nature of, warehouse automation implementations in order to further this understanding.
This article seeks to argue that logistics services, and the independent logistics industry in particular, should be afforded much more attention within political economy approaches to the global economy. Widespread outsourcing processes and the increased sophistication of logistics provisions mean thattheindustryhasarguablyevolvedbeyondbeingamereserviceinputto occupyinganintegralandstrategicro…
A comparative study of three different approaches on a hypothetical supply chain model is presented. The three approaches investigated are: independent; semi‐integrated; and integrated. In the independent approach, it is assumed that decisions are made independently at three different levels. Decisions are assumed to be made at two different levels in the semi‐integrated approach. In the in…
This paper offers insights regarding an agenda for service operations management (SOM) research. First, we motivate the need for an SOM research agenda. Second, we offer a research framework that paints a broad-based picture of key architectural elements in the SOM research landscape. The framework builds upon prior and emerging research for designing, delivering and evaluating services. Third,…
Since the Second World War, ports have been going through an evolution which the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) refers to as generations. The generation of a port reflects whether the approach adopted by port authorities/operators in developing their activities is likely to be reactive or proactive. These activities start with the traditional ones (cargo loading and…
Since the Second World War, ports have been going through an evolution which the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) refers to as generations. The generation of a port reflects whether the approach adopted by port authorities/operators in developing their activities is likely to be reactive or proactive. These activities start with the traditional ones (cargo loading and…
The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study on endorsing process improvement in maritime operations by implementing design of experiments on Lean Six Sigma performance responses. It is demonstrated how process efficiency and environmental muda may be dealt with simultaneously in a lean-and-green project driven by hardcore Six Sigma tools
We are revising our passenger car production forecast to a contraction of 0.8% in 2017, down from growth of 1.7% previously , as a downturn in car demand in one of the country's key export markets, the Middle East, weighs on local autos manufacturing. Having previously expected a revival in domestic vehicle sales and robust demand throughout ASEAN region to drive positive growth in local au…
The start of local MPV production by SGMW in 2017 will bode well for the company ' sefforts to tap into the popular vehicle segment by being closer to its customer base and allowing it to be more responsive to changing market conditions. That said, the customer loyalty and market dominance of Japanese brands in the MPV segment will pose major challenges to SGMW ' s efforts at wrestling …
Hyundai ' s plans to set up a CV production base in Indonesia will allow it to compete more price competitively in the local market but will face strong competition from the dominance of Japanese automakers. Robust CV demand across the ASEAN region will , therefore , provide a sales outlet from a challenging domestic market for the company ' s locally produced vehicles. In August, South…
Indonesia ' s pharmaceutical market, the largest in South East Asia, will see continued foreign drugmaker investment and the manufacturing of pharmaceutical raw materials in the country will increase following the revision of the country's Negative Investment L ist. In addition, t he government ' s incentive to develop the domestic pharmaceutical industry and reduce its reliance on …
Global bauxite production growth will pick up , supported by a strong project pipeline in Australia, new projects in Asia and Africa funded by Chinese aluminium producers and Indonesia ' s decision to relax the ban on ore exports. Asian countries such as Australia, Indonesia and India will drive global bauxite production growth.
Despite the growing importance of logistics in corporate strategy and the global economy, the logistics literature reveals little effort to build a unified theory of logistics (i.e. a theory of the role of logistics in the firm). Thus, the purpose of this paper is to move toward a unified theory of logistics within the contexts of the strategic role and capabilities of logistics. Considering th…
Proposes that, due to the changing market, companies can no longer work with the logistic systems of the past but must develop new logistic concepts, logistic management and control systems to support the new concepts. Discusses the importance of order penetration point (OPP) within the development of time‐based management and control systems. Concludes that creativity in product development,…
Co‐production through maquiladora operations has become an increasingly popular approach to meeting the competitive challenges presented by economic globalization. To take full advantage of the benefits available through co‐production, a comprehensive logistics system must be put in place to support the geographically separated production activities. This article explores the level of emp…
The growth of production‐sharing activities in Mexico has highlighted the need to explore the nature and competitive impact of production sharing. Presents and discusses some of the experiences firms can expect to encounter in Mexican operations. Uses an interview methodology to collect data regarding key manufacturing and logistics issues. Chooses to take an integrated approach that looks …
The purpose of this paper is to explore what potential benefits may be achieved by using advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems in the sales and operations planning (S&OP) process.
The applicability of manufacturing planning and control methods differs between environments. This paper explains the fit between the planning environment and material and capacity planning on the detailed material planning and shop-floor planning levels. The study is based on a conceptual discussion and a survey of 84 Swedish manufacturing companies. Results show the use of planning methods an…
Modules and modularity have been popular concepts in operations research and management rhetoric for decades. Nevertheless, it seems that there is no single universal definition of modularity for classical research themes such as modularity in physical products or modular manufacturing. The purpose of this paper is to describe the current state of modularity research and to clarify the concept …
Modern manufacturing systems enable manufacturing management to plan, control and record manufacturing activities. However, manufacturers have been found to adopt practices and incur overheads to deride the benefits arising in other operational areas of their activities from the implementation of traditional systems. Current manufacturing practices are burdened by the legacy of these traditiona…
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the medium-term planning problem in supply chain networks. Based on a literature review, a comprehensive analytical planning model for the three echelon tactical planning problem in supply chain networks is developed which is applicable in a hierarchical planning frame.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution of production and operations managers (POMs) and logistics managers (LMs) in improving manufacturing and service operations, comparing experiences in Australia and Britain.
To identify operations and logistics issues which are critical for the operational performance in modular assembly processes.
Notes the various factors, e.g. increased domestic production costs, which have led many US firms to pursue production sharing efforts in overseas regions. Also that areas having attractive trade relationships with the USA have become particularly favourable locations for investment in production facilities catering to export markets. Cites the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), established in…
The purpose of this paper is to develop an extensive economic production quantity (EPQ) model on the basis of previous research. Considering an imperfect three-state production process, this paper makes contributions to an integrated model combining conceptions of quality loss and design of control chart based on EPQ model. The objective is to minimize the total production cost with the determi…
This study aims to report on the current issues facing the maquiladora industry in Mexico and the cross-border supply chain and to present suggestions for improving the situation in the future.
This paper aims to propose a practical method of performing maintainability analysis of an offshore system at operation phase having some improvement trend.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate leadership attributes that contribute to or inhibit the successful adaptation of lean techniques.
This paper aims to identify factors that considerably impact business performance of lean manufacturers (companies with extensive use of lean tools and excellent operational performance).
The main thrust of this paper empirically examines the connection between lean production and various aspects of the logistics system. This paper performs a comparison analysis to find whether significant performance/practice differences exist between lean suppliers and non-lean suppliers. The research findings indicate that, even given the same organizational constraints and resources, lean su…
Sets out an alternative approach to designing and managing a logistics system, which is called here lean logistics. Draws on research which has sought to extend the production system logic pioneered by Toyota beyond the factory gate and into industries other than automobiles. Starts by outlining the dilemma facing managers trying to implement new business practices and then proposes an altern…
The sources and consequences of schedule instability at an automotive assembler producing two models on the same assembly track are described. One model was produced under conditions of relatively lengthy stable schedules, the other under more unstable schedule conditions. The two logistics processes were compared, and measures of schedule uncertainty identified. The relative impact on human …
Since the 1970s, companies have become more global, resulting in complex production and distribution networks, and in flows of goods across oceans and borders. The management of these complex systems is a real challenge. Firms nowadays face the questions: “Where is the best place to manufacture our products?” and “What is the best way to distribute them to the markets in the different cou…