| 6721. |
- 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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| 6722. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Integration and formalization of strategic product development and commercialization in a manufacturing company : A challenge for supply chain management
- 2008
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing. - Skövde : University of Skövde. - 9789163327575 ; , s. 532-539
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The last decades a new type of business environments has evolved characterized by rapid and volatile demand changes, short product life cycles, and high levels of customized products. The competitiveness of a business in these environments is mostly determined by its responsiveness. This is characterized by the ability to quickly scale up or down the production volume, the presence of an innovative and fast product development, and a quick incorporation of consumer requirements into the product development. This paper employs a descriptive case study approach to illustrate how product development and commercialization can be integrated into a product management flow to realize innovative and faster product development. Case study findings reveal that the case company has during a five year period increased the number of successful product introductions. Furthermore, the studied approach proves to be successful in this mature business environment where it is essential to develop products based on the consumer need and behaviour and to differentiate the product assortment. Based on our case study we also recognize that the product management flow does not concern supply chain management (SCM) to some extent in the case company – this indicates that further development is needed in SCM applications to support product life-cycle based managerial processes.
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| 6723. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-agent-based supply chain management : a case study of requisites
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1470-9503 .- 1741-5225. ; 7:2/3, s. 184-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Supply Chains (SCs) are becoming increasingly complex, and intensified competition in the end markets has started to create a situation where cooperation requirements between companies are increasing, and old mechanistic operations management solutions are becoming obsolete. In this paper we analyse a real-life situation in Alpha’s manufacturing plant in Sweden, which serves northern European countries in consumer markets. Case study findings reveal that the product-mix flexibility requirements are high and lead-time requirements in manufacturing as well as purchasing take weeks or months, not days. Based on the empirical observations, we propose an agent system for this company and discuss different levels of decision making, operative responsibilities and decision time horizons.
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| 6724. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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New Product Development in a Manufacturing Company - A Challenge for Supply Chain Management
- 2009
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing. - : Teesside University. - 9780956230331 ; , s. 1169-1177
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The last decades a new type of business environments has evolved characterized by rapid and volatile demand changes, short product life cycles, and high levels of customized products. The competitiveness of a business in these environments is mostly determined by its responsiveness. This is characterized by the ability to quickly scale up or down the production volume, the presence of an innovative and fast product development, and the quick incorporation of customer requirements into the product development. This paper employs a descriptive single case study approach to illustrate how product development is structured and executed in an international manufacturing company, seeking to realize an innovative, predictable, and efficient product development. The objective is to increase the understanding of how product development and product life-cycles are connected to Supply Chain Management (SCM). Case study findings reveal that the case company after implementing a strategic and structured Product Creation Process (PCP) has improved the efficiency and effectiveness of product development. Findings also reveal that the case company has not yet developed any linkages between product development and SCM. Still, the case company has become aware of this issue due to problems associated with the lack of integration between product development and SCM.
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| 6725. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Role of logistics outsourcing on supply chain strategy and management : Survey findings from Northern Europe
- 2010
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Ingår i: Strategic Outsourcing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1753-8297 .- 1753-8300. ; 3:1, s. 46-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of logistics outsourcing in Northern Europe through survey research. Research work intends to shed more light on logistics outsourcing with other than case-based company examples.Design/methodology/approach – Survey was completed during late 2007 and early 2008 in Finland and Sweden for the largest companies in industrial and service sectors. Altogether 34 answers were received, and they were gained mostly from industrial and trading companies.Findings – The research results show that warehousing, IT, and customs brokerage outsourcing could have impact on some managerial and strategic aspects of supply chains (SC). Thus, none of the identified difference areas was found to be statistically significant. Potential impact areas of SC strategy and management are integrated IT systems of manufacturing and logistics, reverse logistics procedures, and re-engineering of logistics processes. However, research shows that in-house produced IT function, and potentially outsourced warehousing, have important roles in more international purchasing.Research limitations/implications – Altogether, the amount of responses in the survey was relatively low, but treating Finnish and Swedish companies as one group gives us some opportunity for statistical analysis. This grouping might be one limiting factors of our study, and especially in its generalization power; however, our earlier analysis with the data shows that these countries operate in a rather similar interest area. Another limiting factor of our research findings is the difference in respondent profiles – operating principles of logistics and trade companies are different as compared to manufacturing.Practical implications – Research shows that IT is potentially having an important role in both, international purchasing emphasis as well as on warehousing outsourcing activities. Contrary to the common view, this research gives some indication that in-house IT is valuable, and more integrated applications are needed for example, when warehousing is being outsourced.Originality/value – This is one of the seminal research works regarding North European outsourcing practices, and their affects on SC strategies and management. Both of the countries have an advanced industrial sector, which gives perspective for the readers world wide.
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| 6726. |
- Hilletofth, Per
(författare)
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Supply chain design and differentiation
- 2012
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Ingår i: Building competences, synergy and competitiveness for the future : book of abstracts. - Lublin : Maria Sklodowska-Curie University. - 9788377841044
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop a framework for differentiation focused supply chain design (SCD). Design/methodology/approach: The framework has been developed based on a literature review and tested against a case study. Empirical data has been collected mainly from in-depth and semi-structured interviews.Findings: Differentiation focused SCD can be organized into a five-stage process. It is essential that this process is aligned with new product development (NPD), such that they exchange information, and operate from the same segmentation model.Research limitations/implications: The research is explorative in nature thus empirical data from other research settings should be gathered to reinforce the validity of the findings.Practical implications: This research provides researchers and practitioners with insights as to how a differentiated supply chain should be developed.Originality/value: This research contributes by addressing the lack of research examining how a differentiated supply chain can be developed.
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| 6727. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Supply chain management in fashion and textile industry
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Services Sciences. - : Inderscience. - 1753-1446 .- 1753-1454. ; 1:2, s. 127-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In fashion and textile business, the demand changes rapidly due to fashion trends and a volatile market situation. This demand is unpredictable and could vary and change completely in a short time, creating high difficulties for supply chain. To create a leagil (lean and agile) supply chain is one observed way for a fashion and textile retailing company to optimise its performance and to remain competitive. One good example from such is fashion retailer Zara, which has adopted leagile approach and combined this with key success factors for fashion retailing. However, in this paper, we argue that the leagile approach is not a universal solution in the fashion and textile business. For some fashion and textile companies, the lean approach is more adequate. Case study findings and simulation results reveal that the lean and leagile approach could coexist as different strategy alternatives – simulation results favour leagile strategy, while five year profitability analysis shows lean apparel retailer H&M to have higher profitability than Zara.
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| 6728. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Teaching ERP in logistics curriculum : a case experience from Sweden
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Business Information Systems. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1746-0972 .- 1746-0980. ; 6:3, s. 295-314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of ERP systems in business is commonplace and often a requirement for rapid and efficient operations. The presence of ERP in higher education can be seen as a prerequisite for students to achieve necessary skills and knowledge, but how can the education be achieved in a better way? In this research, the use of ERP systems as a part of two courses of the logistics curriculum in higher education at a Swedish University are presented and analysed. The traditional approach of teaching logistics, where computer sessions are incorporated in ordinary courses, is being compared to a new intensive and flexible course format dedicated entirely to ERP education with a stronger focus on problem-oriented learning. The results show that both approaches offer opportunities, the traditional approach allows students to receive both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills, while the intensive approach provides them with significant practical knowledge and skills. This research results leaves us arguing that the best combination is to utilise both approaches to establish the needed basis for curriculum.
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| 6729. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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The role of logistics service providers in the implementation of a differentiated supply chain
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1756-6517 .- 1756-6525. ; 3:2, s. 151-167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research investigates the role of logistics service providers in the implementation of a differentiated supply chain. The issue is examined through a multiple case study combined with a literature review. The research shows that logistics service providers can support companies with the implementation of a differentiated supply chain in sourcing and distribution parts by providing services that the company is incapable to provide, by providing certain services more efficiently or by providing complementing services. In some situations, the logistics service provider is even responsible for the entire implementation and should continuously develop the logistics process and customised service according to the company’s market situation. Eurasian transportation flows are nowadays an important part of most supply chains and needs to be considered in this differentiation work. Logistics service providers operating in these flows can support the differentiation by providing more customised and differentiated transportation services and there is a demand for more transportation alternatives in these flows.
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| 6730. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Three novel fuzzy logic concepts applied to reshoring decision-making
- 2019
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Ingår i: Expert systems with applications. - : Elsevier. - 0957-4174 .- 1873-6793. ; 126, s. 133-143
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper investigates the possibility of increasing the interpretability of fuzzy rules and reducing the complexity when designing fuzzy rules. To achieve this, three novel fuzzy logic concepts (i.e., relative linguistic labels, high-level rules and linguistic variable weights) were conceived and implemented in a fuzzy logic system for reshoring decision-making. The introduced concepts increase the interpretability of fuzzy rules and reduce the complexity when designing fuzzy rules while still providing accurate results.
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