| 1. |
- Kordestani, Arash Abolghasemi, et al.
(författare)
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Supply chain process maturity and financial performance study of Swedish steel SMEs
- 2010
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 17th Euroma conference.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The goal of this research is to demonstrate that the financial performance of the current year in Swedish steel SMEs is dependent on the amount of maturity of supply chain processes. This is examined by considering current supply chain process maturities of the firm together with financial performance of prior years. It was found that the delivery process of supply chain processes and prior cost of goods sold (COGS) have an effect on current COGS. Additionally, prior inventory and plan process of the supply chain have a positive and negative effect on inventory turnover respectively.
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| 2. |
- 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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| 3. |
- 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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| 4. |
- 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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| 5. |
- 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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| 6. |
- 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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| 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. |
- Lövblad, Mikael, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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What Do You Expect? : The Effect of Psychological Contracts on Affective Commitment in Industrial Marketing Relationships
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Relationship Marketing. - London : Routledge. - 1533-2667 .- 1533-2675. ; 9:3, s. 161-178
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Affective relationship commitment has in several studies been identified as a crucial factor in the longevity of business relationships. In this article, it is argued that affective commitment should be researched on the individual level rather than the organizational level and that relevant psychological processes need to be incorporated into theory in order to increase understanding regarding the dynamics of this aspect of relationship commitment. The psychological contract, a construct derived from organizational psychology, is tested as an antecedent to affective commitment in relationships between buyers and sellers in the market for industrial supplies in Sweden. The findings indicate that the relational orientation of the psychological contract, as well as the evaluation of the same, has explanatory value when related to affective commitment in business-to-business relationships.
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| 9. |
- Eriksson, David, et al.
(författare)
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The Role of Consumer Insight in New Product Development and Its Impact on Supply Chain Management : A Swedish Case Study
- 2010
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Ingår i: Innovative Process Optimization Methods in Logistics. - Berlin : Erich Schmidt Verlag. - 9783503126835 - 350312683X ; , s. 113-126
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper seeks to explore how a profound consumer understanding may influence the early stages of a new product development (NPD) process. The issue is examined through a qualitative single case study combined with a literature review. The case study shows how the NPD process is structured and executed in a Swedish furniture company as well as the role consumer insight plays in that process. Empirical data have been collected mainly from in-depth interviews with persons representing senior and middle management in the case company. The research reveals that consumer oriented, cross-functional NPD in the case company has a strong impact on internal collaboration, and aligns the goals between different departments and functions within the company. Despite inefficiencies on departmental level, effectiveness on company level is achieved. Early indications show an expected growth in contribution margins by 8 percentage.
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| 10. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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In-Transit Distribution Strategy : Hope for European Factories?
- 2010
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Ingår i: Rapid Modelling and Quick Response. - London : Springer London. - 9781849965248 - 9781849965255 ; , s. 249-261
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this research the in-transit distribution strategy is investigated by determining and analyzing key principles of the strategy. It is examined through a multiple case study and simulation. This research reveals that the in-transit distribution strategy is about considering goods that are being transported as a mobile inventory and actively dispatching goods to a destination, where there is a predicted demand before any customer orders are received. It can give major competitive advantages by offering rather short lead-times for customers without having to store products locally. This, in turn, gives lower warehousing costs, lower tied-up capital, a less interrupted manufacturing, and steady as well as continous production volumes. It is a workable solution for European manufactures competing in distant market. To be successful with this strategy, it takes good planning, working closely with customers, first-class market kowledge, and a supporting enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Other highlighted requirements are low variation in demand and predictable distribution lead-time. Simulation study of one hypothetical product group verified case study findings, but we find it interesting that especially manufacturing output variance is very sensitive regarding the overall results. Also increasing average customer demand results in undesired outcomes.
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