Chinese enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors have been able to defend the challenge from global ERP leaders such as SAP and Oracle. This article seeks possible reasons for major international ERP vendors not being able to dominate the Chinese ERP market. Taking an ensemble view of technology, we conceptualize ERP systems as being embedded in complex social contexts, which heavily influenc…
Increasingly, how well organisations innovate is becoming the single most important issue in determining their ultimate success. Referen- cing a variety of cases primarily drawn from governmental organisations, this paper argues that the key to successful innovation imple- mentation rests on the convergence of three different factors. First, an innovation must be properly framed in terms of sta…
Both postponement and outsourcing have been identified as important characteristics of modern and competitive supply chains. The implementation of postponement may require extensive (spatial) reconfiguration of the supply chain. Presents findings from interviews with managers of food, electronics, automotive and clothing manufacturers in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Findings reveal tha…
This paper present the results of a study of material requirements planning (MRP) implementation in the packaging machinery-building industry. The research, in particular, has addressed such issues as management and employee responses and the actual versus expected financial and production/logistics benefits. Some of the findings are that, generally, benefits of MRP packages include higher pro…
Returns management is the supply chain management process by which activities associated with returns, reverse logistics, gatekeeping, and avoidance are managed within the firm and across key members of the supply chain. The correct implementation of this process enables management not only to manage the reverse product flow efficiently, but to identify opportunities to reduce unwanted returns …
Information and communication technology (ICT) plays a critical role in supporting logistics services outsourcing arrangements. Despite the literature highlighting the benefits of ICT usage by logistics service providers (LSPs), a gap between what is expected of ICT and satisfaction with LSP performance has persisted. Seeking to reduce this gap, the purpose of this paper is to propose an ICT im…
Presents a comparison of the findings of three studies conducted in North America/ Europe and Australia which investigated the adoption of quality management practices in the logistics function. Focuses on the extent to which quality practices are adopted, how quality in logistics is defined and administered, impediments to implementation, measurement of quality improvements, measuring customer…
Presents the results of a pilot project on implementation of just‐in‐time (JIT) production for an automotive component (sleeve for synchronizing groups). Describes the old manufacturing system and outlines the related problems. Proposes, with the aim of reducing set‐up times and increasing flexibility, quality and logistic performances, a new advanced manufacturing system using JIT as an …
Using data collected from a sample of 97 manufacturing plants, we examine how organizational culture is related to outcomes associated with advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) implementation. Multiple item scales are developed and adapted from a wide range of sources in the literature to measure managers' perceptions of organizational culture, AMT benefits, and implementation outcomes such …
The principles behind just‐in‐time have long been recognized in the Western world. However, implementation in the West has not achieved full potential. This indicates uncertainty and a lack of knowledge in the West. Based on a comparison of 52 Japanese companies, indicates that the Western world has been using the wrong set of tools and that a reversed profile of competence is apparent. S…