| 1. |
- Hilletofth, Per
(författare)
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Demand-Supply Chain Management
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Purpose: This research aims to enhance the current understanding and knowledge of the demand-supply chain management (DSCM) concept by determining its elements, benefits, and requirements, as well as by analyzing key elements of the concept. Methodology: This research has utilized the case study strategy and the survey strategy, however, the case study strategy dominates. The case study research has involved five companies originating from Sweden and the collection of empirical data mainly from in-depth interviews with key persons representing senior and middle management. The survey research targeted the largest firms in Sweden and Finland and empirical data was collected through an online questionnaire. Findings: This research has established that the main elements of DSCM include market orientation, coordination of the demand and supply processes, viewing the demand and supply processes as being equally important, as well as value creation, differentiation, innovativeness, responsiveness, and cost-efficiency in the demand and supply processes. It has also been revealed that the main benefits of DSCM include enhanced competiveness, enhanced demand chain performance, as well as enhanced supply chain performance, while the main requirements of DSCM include organizational competences, company established principles, demand-supply chain collaboration, and information technology support. A key element of DSCM further investigated is differentiation focused supply chain design. It has been shown that these efforts can be organized into a process of five stages. In addition, it is important that this process is addressed in parallel with the new product development (NPD) process, that information is exchanged between them, and that they are directed on the basis of the same segmentation model. Another key element of DSCM further investigated is coordination between NPD and SCM. This research has identified several significant linkages between these management directions, which motivate the use of an integrative NPD process where the NPD functions are aligned with the main supply functions in the company and other sales-related functions supporting the commercialization. A final key element of DSCM further investigated is the significance of regarding the demand processes and the supply processes as being equally important. This research has revealed that logistics outsourcing can be risky, if it results in the supply processes being considered less important. Nevertheless, if senior management regards the outsourced processes as equally important as the in-house processes, the effect of logistics outsourcing on company strategies and direction in SCM could be reduced and logistics outsourcing could instead provide an opportunity to improve the design and differentiation of the supply chain. Research limitations/implications: This research has proposed, described, and further analyzed a demand-supply oriented management approach. Such a management approach stresses that the demand processes and the supply processes have to be coordinated and directed at an overlying level, in order to gain and sustain a competitive advantage in competitive and fragmented markets. This research is mainly explorative in nature, and more empirical data, from similar and other research settings, is needed to further validate the findings. Another limitation of the research is that it is essentially limited to Swedish companies (even if some Finnish companies are involved in the survey), however, many of the case companies have a large international presence and are among the top three in their industries, facts which provide some grounds for generalization. Practical implications: This research provides researchers and practitioners with insights into how to develop a demand-supply oriented business. It shows that companies should organize themselves around understanding how customer value is created and delivered, as well as how these processes and management directions can be coordinated. In order for this to occur, the demand and supply processes must be considered as being equally important and the firm needs to be managed jointly and in a coordinated manner by the demand- and supply-side of the company. It is also important that value creation is considered in both the demand and supply processes. Originality/value: Despite strong arguments from both researchers and practitioners for a demand-supply oriented management approach only a minority of companies appear to have effectively coordinated the demand and supply processes. This might be influenced by the lack of research examining how the demand and supply processes can be coordinated, what benefits can be gained by coordinating them, and what requirements are necessary to succeed. This research contributes by investigating these types of aspects further.
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| 2. |
- Asplund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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E-procurement beyond the buyer cost perspective
- 2010
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 22nd NOFOMA Conference. - Kolding : University of Southern Denmark. - 9788792471055 ; , s. 483-498
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The objective of this paper is to provide and argue for a comprehensive view of e-procurement that involves both the buyer and suppliers and that goes beyond looking at mere cost reductions on the buyer side. More specifically, the paper describes benefits and barriers of implementing e-procurement solutions for both buyers and suppliers.Design/methodology/approach: This paper reports on a literature review combined with a case study. The case is a public organization in Sweden, which prepares to implement an e-procurement solution. Interviews were also conducted with a selection of suppliers to the case organization.Findings: In e-procurement literature, drivers and barriers are often viewed only from the perspective of a buying organization. Benefits are mainly cost-related for the buying organization, while barriers often include suppliers. It is proposed that benefits and barriers should include both buyers and suppliers. The literature review and the case study findings form the basis for further investigation into this problem area.Research limitations/implications: This study focuses on a public organization in Sweden. Yet, it could have implications for many public or private organizations considering implementing e-procurement systems.Practical implications: This research suggest that organizations to a greater extent should take the supplier´s side into account when implementing e-procurement solutions.Originality/Value: The study highlights a full cycle view on e-procurement taking both buyer and supplier into account.
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| 3. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Coordinating demand and supply processes : Towards demand-supply chain management
- 2010
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, 2010. ; , s. 512-521
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research explores and describes the demand-supply chain management (DSCM) concept from both a theoretical and practical perspective by determining what key principles that characterize the concept as well as to illustrate its application in practice. The concept is examined through a literature review combined with a qualitative single case study. The research reveals that DSCM is about coordinating demand and supply processes within a particular company and across the demand-supply chain. It can be defined as the alignment of demand and supply processes across intra and inter-organizational boundaries for the purpose of improving the ability of the particular company and the entire demand-supply chain to enhance overall customer value while utilizing resources cost-efficiently. Key principles that characterize the concept are value creation, value delivery, customer orientation, product and supply chain differentiation, lead-time reduction, information management, and responsiveness with respect to existing products as well as changing customer needs.
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| 4. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Agent-based decision support for maintenance service provider
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Services Sciences. - : Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.. - 1753-1446 .- 1753-1454. ; 3:2/3, s. 194-215
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Operations performed by a maintenance service provider (MSP) can include the entire maintenance function or select activities; these need to be well-balanced in terms of utilisation rate of own resources, maintenance cost incurred and the uptime of the customers’ production systems. MSPs face challenges due to the task of planning several non-associated plants and with a frequent lack of reliable information. In this research work, an agent-based decision support system of service-related maintenance has been developed. Research shows that this approach can improve the understanding of the problem domain and also generate a basis for decision-making and structural changes.
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| 5. |
- Lättilä, Lauri, et al.
(författare)
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Hybrid simulation models - When, Why, How?
- 2010
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Ingår i: Expert systems with applications. - : Elsevier. - 0957-4174 .- 1873-6793. ; 37:12, s. 7969-7975
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) and System Dynamics (SD) are two popular simulation paradigms. Despite their common goal, these simulation methods are rarely combined and there has been a very low amount of joint research in these fields. However, it seems to be advantageous to combine them to create more accurate hybrid models. In this research, the possible ways to combine these methods are studied. The authors have found five different situations where it will be useful to combine these methods. All of them have already been used in earlier studies, so modelers should use them as possible interfaces to combine the methodologies. By using hybrid simulation models it is possible to create more accurate and reliable Expert Systems (ES).
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| 6. |
- Eriksson, David, et al.
(författare)
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The importance of the retailer for an OEM developing innovative products
- 2011
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Ingår i: Conradi Research Review. - : Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. - 1459-0980. ; 6:2, s. 63-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The supply chain strategy research has generated many frameworks for matching the supply chain with the nature of demand, market, consumers, or products. Recently many companies have implemented innovative new product development processes in order to increase revenue. However, research on the importance of the retailers for an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) adopting a leagile supply chain strategy for innovative products, is scarce. Using the case study method, this research investigates the need of collaboration between an OEM and its retailers. This research aims to richen the knowledge about demand supply chain management (DSCM), and the coordination of demand and supply processes between companies in the demand-supply chain. This research shows that there are several measures that may be used to monitor performance, and that collaboration is important for the case company.
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| 7. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Coordinating new product development and supply chain management
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Value Chain Management. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1741-5357 .- 1741-5365. ; 4:1/2, s. 170-192
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Effective implementation of the new product development (NPD) process not only enables management to coordinate the efficient flow of new products, but will also assist to support ramp-up of various supply chain activities and other related activities supporting the commercialisation of the product. Thus, companies need to address all these issues in parallel to be successful and this requires some kind of integrative product development approach. The purpose of this research is to increase the understanding of how NPD is connected to supply chain management (SCM) by investigating how the NPD process is structured and executed in two international manufacturing companies seeking to realise an innovative, predictable and efficient product development. Several essential linkages between NPD and SCM have been derived from case study findings concerning important issues for successful product development.
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| 8. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Coordinating new product development with supply chain management
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial management & data systems. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0263-5577 .- 1758-5783. ; 111:2, s. 264-281
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to form an understanding of how new product development (NPD) relates to supply chain management (SCM), why the two fields should be coordinated, and how this may be done.Design/methodology/approach – This research uses a literature review and case study research. The case study considers a Swedish company that operates on a global basis in the furniture industry. Empirical data have been collected mainly from in-depth interviews with key persons representing senior and middle management in the case company.Findings – This paper stresses the need to produce innovative, value-adding products, as well as the necessity to quickly deliver them to the market. Companies that face mature business environments may encounter problems due to a high emphasis on either the value-creation processes, or on the value delivery processes. Therefore, NPD activities need to be coordinated with SCM activities on a strategic level, lest competitiveness will be lost.Research limitations/implications – The research is limited to one case company; replication studies would enhance understanding of the studied phenomenon. There is a wide need for research exploring how various parts of demand and supply chains should be managed in order to fully utilize the advantages of the consumer-oriented enterprise.Practical implications – This paper provides insights for researchers and practitioners on how to coordinate and balance NPD (demand side) with SCM (supply side) activities. It highlights that companies should organize themselves around understanding how consumer value is created and how these processes may be coordinated to provide that value. The two processes must be given equal attention and importance to avoid sub-optimization.Originality/value – The need for coordinating NPD and SCM activities has been emphasized in the literature but still remains relatively unexplored. This paper contributes by investigating this issue further.
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| 9. |
- Claesson, Frida, et al.
(författare)
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In-transit distribution as a strategy in a global distribution system
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1756-6517 .- 1756-6525. ; 3:2, s. 198-209
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Distribution has become a key factor in today's logistics system due to companies' desires to achieve considerable economies of scale in production, achieved by focused factories, as well as customers' demands for shorter lead-times and customer adapted products. The purpose of this research is to investigate if the in-transit distribution strategy may offer companies a competitive advantage and may be used as a complement to the centralised distribution strategy and/or the decentralised distribution strategy. This study shows that the in-transit distribution strategy can give major competitive advantages by offering rather short lead-times for customers without having to store products locally in warehouses. This, in turn, gives lower warehousing costs, lower tied-up capital, a less interrupted manufacturing, and steady and continuous production volumes. In order to be successful with this strategy, it takes good planning, working closely with customers, good market knowledge, and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that is able to support the strategy sufficiently. Among these factors, low variation in demand as well as manufacturing output is required, and furthermore distribution lead time needs to be predictable.
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| 10. |
- Claesson, Frida, et al.
(författare)
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Supply Chain Planning in Automotive Sector : Swedish Case Study
- 2011
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Ingår i: Conradi Research Review. - : Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. - 1459-0980. ; 6:2, s. 33-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research aims to enhance the current level of knowledge from supply chain planning (SCP) by analyzing the importance of collaboration, information exchange and a supporting information system in its successful execution. These are examined through a case study from international manufacturing company, which operates in automotive industry with its global manufacturing network. Research reveals that collaboration is a complex and important issue of SCP, and occurs simultaneously in vertical and horizontal dimensions. It is important to select strategic partners and to develop a structured work processes and routines. The main objective of collaboration is to determine common goals and objectives and to facilitate the exchange of information; these together drive the performance of a supply chain higher. A sufficient information system supporting the SCP is vital to facilitate collaboration, and information exchange between the different supply chain participants. However, currently in the case company quite many phases of SCP are completed without appropriate and integrated information systems and the process itself contains several manual phases.
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