| 1. |
- Baraldi, Enrico, Professor, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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The pros and cons of reshoring to address the problems of shortages in global pharmaceutical value chains : the case of antibiotics
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 16:3, s. 618-640
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Antibiotics shortages have become an increasingly common problem in Europe because of several reasons, including the offshoring of the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients for many of these products to low production cost countries, such as China and India. The problem has deteriorated because of the Covid-19 crisis that has put most global value chains (GVCs) under great stress. This situation has boosted extensive discussions among academics, practitioners and policymakers on possible changes to the configuration of GVCs. This paper aims to focus specifically on antibiotics supply chains from the perspective of a small country (Sweden), and analyse the pros and cons of backshoring and nearshoring alternatives, as a means to reduce drug shortages.Design/methodology/approach: This work adopts a systemic perspective to capture the implications of reshoring for the different stakeholders involved in the antibiotics field. The present meso-analysis, focusing at the industry level, is based on multiple sources of primary data collected between 2014 and 2021, including participation in policy-related projects and interviews with over 100 representatives of key stakeholders in the antibiotics field.Findings: This paper shows how reshoring can address the problems of drug shortages and reduce availability risk in antibiotics’ GVCs. However, the authors show that no simple and best solution exists because both alternatives of reshoring, i.e. backshoring and nearshoring, entail pros and cons for different stakeholders. The authors conclude with implications for policymakers and managers.Research limitations/implications: The analysis of pros and cons of both backshoring and nearshoring for various stakeholders offers relevant implications for research on operations and supply management, international business and economics/political science.Originality/value: This paper looks at reshoring as a policy-driven decision and provides an innovative systemic perspective to analyse the implications for different stakeholders of two reshoring options concerning the antibiotics supply chain.
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| 2. |
- Barbieri, Paolo, et al.
(författare)
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What do we know about manufacturing reshoring?
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 11:1, s. 79-122
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyze and classify research that has been conducted on manufacturing reshoring, i.e. the decision to bring back to the home country production activities earlier offshored, independently of the governance mode (insourcing vs outsourcing). Consequently, the paper also aims at providing avenues for future research and to highlight the distinct value of studying manufacturing reshoring either per se or in combination with other constructs of the international business tradition.Design/methodology/approach: A set of 57 carefully selected articles on manufacturing reshoring published in international journals or books indexed on Scopus in the past 10 years was systematically analyzed based on the “5Ws and 1H” (who-what-where-when-why and how) set of questions.Findings: The authors’ work shows a certain convergence among authors regarding what reshoring is and what its key features and motivations are. In contrast, other related aspects, such as the decision-making and implementation processes, are comparatively less understood.Research limitations/implications: As manufacturing reshoring is a “recent” topic, for some of its aspects, only exploratory research is available to date, limiting the authors’ possibility to either characterize it in a more exhaustive way or highlight well-established patterns.Practical implications: The paper demonstrates that studying reshoring will indeed contribute to expanding our understanding of internationalization processes and strategies in general and of production internationalization specifically. While past studies have argued that the learning derived from international experience would permit firms to overcome their unfamiliarity with new business environments, reshoring might show that this outcome is not necessarily certain. Rather, firms might not be able to overcome obstacles because of internationalization or they might realize that attempting to do so is not desirable, e.g. because of excessive risk or changes in the firm’s strategic priorities.Social implications: From a societal point of view, the present research underlines that reshoring can be part of that re-industrialization policy that many Western countries include in their economic agenda – yet, its impact on employment should not be overestimated, as often relocation is only in regard to some product lines. At the same time, there might be an intimate relationship between reshoring and the various forms of technological innovations applied to manufacturing – which has become popularly labeled as “Industry 4.0”.Originality/value: Literature reviews proposed until now usually paid almost exclusive attention to motivations driving this phenomenon. This paper offers a broader and more comprehensive examination of the extant knowledge of manufacturing reshoring and identifies the main unresolved issues and knowledge gaps, which future research should investigate.
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| 3. |
- Engström, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Reshoring drivers and barriers in the Swedish manufacturing industry
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 11:2, s. 174-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore reshoring drivers and barriers from a Swedish manufacturing perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a case study, including four Swedish manufacturing companies, with focus on drivers and barriers from the context of the Swedish manufacturing industry. A literature review of previously established drivers and barriers is used to map out the empirical findings and thereby identify potential gaps between the current body of literature and drivers and barriers from a Swedish manufacturing context.FindingsThe findings of the study suggest that quality issues continue to be one of the strongest reshoring drivers. Except for product quality, quality is also connected to host country’s infrastructure, communication and service. The supply chain perspective is a source of several drivers and is identified as a perspective often overlooked in offshoring decisions. Barriers related to firm specifics were more elaborately discussed by the companies, especially concerning calculation of location decision and the need to invest in resources, which allows for a higher level of capacity at the home country facility.Research limitations/implicationsThe study develops a structured table of reshoring drivers and barriers which can serve as a base for future research. Future research on the calculation of location decisions is deemed as a crucial step to further understand reshoring and aid companies in the decision-making process.Practical implicationsThe drivers and barriers identified in the study can give practitioners insight into reshoring from the perspective of the Swedish manufacturing industry and thus aid in future manufacturing location decisions. The table of drivers and barriers can also be important to understand how Sweden can strengthen its competitive advantage and motivate more companies to reshore manufacturing.Originality/valueThis is one of only few papers from the Nordic countries and also one of few case studies examining reshoring in manufacturing companies.
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| 4. |
- Fredriksson, Anna, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Technology transfer as apart of the business : Inter-organizational transfer strategies based on experiences of aircraft production
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 12:1, s. 151-171
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe purpose of this paper is through a literature study and a study of the Saab offset cases to identify strategies to increase inter-organizational transfer capability.Design/Methodology/ApproachBased on a literature study and a study of three of Saab’s offset cases and Saab’s process for technology transfer.FindingsThis study has identified inter-organisational transfer strategies based on the importance of the hierarchy of decision-making and the change from capacity transfers to capability transfers in offset business. 1) The type of performance goals set in the business agreement decides how to realise the transfer. 2) The hierarchy of decision-making create a need to align the understanding of the performance goals between the different parts of the organisation, which affect the plans for how to transfer knowledge between the organizational as well as the individual levels. 3) To reach the performance goals of the technology transfer there need to be a balance between the disseminative capability of the sender and the absorptive capability of the receiver. LimitationsThis study is based on a single case within a relatively unique industry with an offset perspective and production transfers. Therefore, there is also a need for future studies to confirm the identified relationships within outsourcing/offset within other industries and other types of transfers.Originality/value: A change from capacity transfers to capability transfers in both outsourcing/offshoring and offset business indicates that more research should be placed on the disseminative capacity of the sender. The literature review revealed that the disseminative capacity of the sender has been the subject of less research than the absorptive capacity of the receiver.
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| 5. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Competitive priorities and capabilities: High-cost country case survey
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 16:3, s. 641-660
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeGlobalization and the importance of emerging markets have increased the pressure of high-cost manufacturing locations to sustain operations. However, there are still some countries in which manufacturing is prospering despite high costs (like Germany, Sweden and Switzerland). This study examines seven competitive priorities through 24 different capabilities, using a case survey of four manufacturing companies located in Sweden. This study aims to develop a contemporary understanding from vital priorities and capabilities.Design/methodology/approachA case survey was conducted in four different-sized manufacturing companies in Sweden during the autumn of 2018. In total, the survey attracted 89 responses. Respondents were mainly middle managers and other management team members.FindingsIn general, companies assess the importance of manufacturing capabilities higher than performance and improvement. The authors’ analysis shows that quality priority through product and process capabilities is ranked highest in terms of importance, performance and improvement. In addition, delivery capability shows a similarity with quality. At the other end, being lowest ranked are typically different flexibility and advertising capabilities. This study demonstrates with correlation analysis that most often capabilities have a positive correlation in terms of their importance, performance and improvement needs. Some capabilities show potential correlations across importance, performance and improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to one high-cost environment and to four companies within that environment. Further research should examine the impact of the pandemic era on manufacturing priorities and capabilities.Originality/valueIn general, case surveys have relatively rarely been used in management studies. This research offers an alternative and deeper perspective from high-cost country manufacturing, as the responses are from numerous persons in management positions.
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| 6. |
- Mogos, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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A production-transferprocedure based on risk management principles
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 12:1, s. 103-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose –This paper develops a procedure for preparing production transfers based on risk management principles. The procedure should help companies reduce the amount of supply disruptions during transfers and achieve their outsourcing/offshoring objectives.Design/methodology/approach – The procedure was developed during a 3-year Design Science study. First, a literature review and case studies were conducted to frame the research problem. Second, a preliminary procedure was developed based on preventive actions from the production transfer literature. Third, the procedure was implemented during an electronics-offshoring case and refined during workshops with the sender and receiver’s transfer-personnel. Fourth, during a seminar, transfer experts verified the procedure by applying it to outsourcing/offshoring cases with which they had experience.Findings – Most of the preventive actions were evaluated as relevant for the transfers the procedure was applied to, regardless of industry and relocation type. Nevertheless, the electronics-offshoring case showed that the amount of resources the transfer parties were willing to invest in interactive actions (e.g. cross-locational transfer of personnel) depended on the transfer’s risk level and profit impact. This paper provides propositions about how to better allocate personnel during relocations and enhances the production transfer literature by clarifying transfer-risk management.Practical implications – The procedure can be used during the production-transfer phase as a preparation procedure. Moreover, it informs the decision-making process during the relocation-decision and supplier-selection phases.Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first production-transfer-preparation procedure based on risk management principles.
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| 7. |
- Paras, Manoj Kumar, et al.
(författare)
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Developing a framework for the performance evaluation of sorting and grading firms of used clothing
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThis paper aims to propose a framework for evaluating the performance of reverse value chain activities in the clothing industry operating at base of the pyramid. Specifically, the research explores firm and supply chain factors influencing clothing reverse value chain activities with a focus on developing economies.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted an explorative technique using direct observations and semi-structured interviews to collect information from eight companies and two traders. Internal resources and value chain capabilities were examined using theoretical underpinnings of resource-based view, transaction cost economics and base of the pyramid.FindingsThe paper identified multiple benefits of offshoring reverse value chain activities to the developing countries (at the base of the pyramid). Low operation cost, skilled manpower, business knowledge and location are found to be internal success factors. While favourable government legislation and domestic recycling markets are important external factors contributing to the success. Developing economies such as India contribute to firm performance by integrating, transforming, acquiring and co-creating the resources at base of the pyramid. Further, it was found that to achieve higher assets specificity, a few companies have opened their own shops in African countries, while others have opened sourcing branches in Canada or the USA to ensure good quality of raw materials. Collaboration and coordination among different value chain partners minimise cost and increases profitability. Innovation in the process such as clothes mutilation for recycling has created new business opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsInformation was collected from only eight organisations and two traders from India. Future scholars may extend the research to generalise the findings by documenting similar phenomena.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework can serve a basis for the practitioners to evaluate firm performance, and the insights can be used to achieve sustainability by engaging producers, employees, consumers and community using base of the pyramid approach.Originality/valueThe study provides unique insights into the prevalent export and re-exports phenomena of used clothing. The resource-based view, transaction cost economics and base of the pyramid strategy underpinned together to develop a framework for understanding reverse value chain activities of clothing.
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| 8. |
- Sansone, Cinzia, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of critical operations capabilities for competitive manufacturing in a high-cost environment
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 13:3, s. 229-250
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeTo survive in a competitive landscape, companies are required to identify, develop and continuously improve upon the operations capabilities that have the greatest impact on the overall competitiveness. This paper aims to evaluate critical operations capabilities for competitive manufacturing in a high-cost environment.Design/methodology/approachCritical operations capabilities for competitive manufacturing were extracted in a literature review and then evaluated from the perspective of a high-cost environment in a focus group study. The focus group included a quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (discussion) evaluation of the extracted critical operations capabilities.FindingsThe empirical findings revealed that all the capabilities identified in the literature review are considered critical in a high-cost environment, albeit with varying emphasis. Companies located in a high-cost environment tend to emphasize a broad set of capabilities related to quality, cost, time, flexibility and innovation rather than only cost-related capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on a focus group that was limited to 14 representatives from five Swedish manufacturing companies. This can reveal some limitations with regard to the generalizability of the conclusions drawn. Hence, this research should be considered as an initial step in gaining a more in-depth and complete understanding of the research topic under investigation.Practical implicationsThe research outcome enables managers to design their operations strategy more systematically and effectively, to be consistent with their targeted capabilities. The operations capabilities are important for both the company’s competitiveness and its future direction.Originality/valueThe paper presents an updated understanding of how companies achieved a competitive advantage in a specific manufacturing environment such as a high-cost context. It additionally provides an overview of what capabilities are developed for implementing successful operations strategies.
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| 9. |
- Sequeira, Movin, et al.
(författare)
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AHP-based support tools for initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 14:3, s. 502-527
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe existing literature expresses a strong need to develop tools that support the manufacturing reshoring decision-making process. This paper aims to examine the suitability of analytical hierarchy process (AHP)-based tools for initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions.Design/methodology/approachTwo AHP-based tools for the initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions are developed. The first tool is based on traditional AHP, while the second is based on fuzzy-AHP. Six high-level and holistic reshoring criteria based on competitive priorities were identified through a literature review. Next, a panel of experts from a Swedish manufacturing company was involved in the overall comparison of the criteria. Based on this comparison, priority weights of the criteria were obtained through a pairwise analysis. Subsequently, the priority weights were used in a weighted-sum manner to evaluate 20 reshoring scenarios. Afterwards, the outputs from the traditional AHP and fuzzy-AHP tools were compared to the opinions of the experts. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the stability of the developed decision support tools.FindingsThe research demonstrates that AHP-based support tools are suitable for the initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions. With regard to the presented set of criteria and reshoring scenarios, both traditional AHP and fuzzy-AHP are shown to be consistent with the experts' decisions. Moreover, fuzzy-AHP is shown to be marginally more reliable than traditional AHP. According to the sensitivity analysis, the order of importance of the six criteria is stable for high values of weights of cost and quality criteria.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of the developed AHP-based tools is that they currently only include a limited number of high-level decision criteria. Therefore, future research should focus on adding low-level criteria to the tools using a multi-level architecture. The current research contributes to the body of literature on the manufacturing reshoring decision-making process by addressing decision-making issues in general and by demonstrating the suitability of two decision support tools applied to the manufacturing reshoring field in particular.Practical implicationsThis research provides practitioners with two decision support tools for the initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions, which will help managers optimize their time and resources on the most promising reshoring alternatives. Given the complex nature of reshoring decisions, the results from the fuzzy-AHP are shown to be slightly closer to those of the experts than traditional AHP for initial screening of manufacturing relocation decisions.Originality/valueThis paper describes two decision support tools that can be applied for the initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions while considering six high-level and holistic criteria. Both support tools are applied to evaluate 20 identical manufacturing reshoring scenarios, allowing a comparison of their output. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates the relative importance of the reshoring criteria.
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| 10. |
- Wikner, Joakim, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Customer-differentiated triadic interaction based on decoupling points
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2398-5364 .- 2398-5372. ; 10:2, s. 185-205
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe integration of supply chains together with the disintegration of individual actors in the supply chain shifts the focus from actors to challenges in the interaction between actors. This paper sets out to identify risk strategies for different supplier interactions in triadic configurations, in order to outline supply strategies.Design/methodology/approachCompanies participating in a research project recounted the challenges they faced regarding the integration of customer order-based management and supply from a triad perspective. Six triad configurations were identified, based on the literature, resulting in three risk strategies, which were empirically illustrated in practice by the participating companies.FindingsA key finding is that a triad perspective for a customer-differentiated approach to supplier interaction results in a material classification that highlights the circumstances in which to apply ‘balance efficiency’, ‘postpone’, ‘balance responsiveness’ and ‘speculate’ supply strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThe research has focused on process drivers and controllability and the results may require careful interpretation when there is a mix of standardized and customized products since further interaction differentiation then may be required.Practical implicationsThe strategies developed herein provide guidelines for differentiated supplier interaction with explicit focus on triads where customer actors directly influence supplier actors. This approach highlights how outsourcing must be carefully executed when supplier actors are involved in delivery to customer orders.Originality/valueThe paper sheds new light on how customer requirements impact supplier interaction in terms of decoupling points related to both delivery strategy and control strategy. The study also presents a novel application of the Kraljic matrix in in terms of risk strategies in different triad configurations.
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