| 1. |
- Dabhilkar, Mandar, et al.
(författare)
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Supplier selection or collaboration? : Determining factors of performance improvement when outsourcing manufacturing
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 1478-4092 .- 1873-6505. ; 15:3, s. 143-153
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An empirical study was designed to determine factors of performance improvement when outsourcing manufacturing. Findings from a survey of 136 manufacturing plants in Sweden show that most of them achieve their outsourcing motives, but not without trade-offs. Factors of performance improvements such as economies of scale or operations in low-cost countries can improve one performance dimension, such as product cost, yet negatively impact volume flexibility, speed or product innovation. The results show part characteristics and supplier operating capabilities are more important than supplier relationship strategies when outsourcing manufacturing, meaning that supplier selection trumps supplier collaboration in the make-or-buy decision.
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| 2. |
- Jahedi, Mohammad, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of Multiple Water Impinging Jet Array on Quenching Hot Rotary Hollow Cylinders
- 2020
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Experimental study has been carried out to investigate transient quenching of a rotary hollow cylinder by water impinging jets in multiple jet arrays. Subcooled water jets (Δ????= 55-85K) were placed into two types of nozzle arrays: 1-row and 2-row in-line array. The flow rate of water jets varied from 2.7 to 10.9 L/min, impinging on hot rotary cylinder (?? =600℃) with rotation speed 10-50 rpm and different curvature ratio (??/d = 12, 19 and 24). The local average and maximum boiling heat transfer at water jet’s stagnation point revealed effect of studied quenching parameters and multiple jet arrays in the boiling heat transfer. The result showed among the studied parameters, jet’s flow rate and curvature ratio influenced heat transfer in all the boiling regimes. Rotation speed was effective in film and transition boiling regime and strong effect of subcooling was captured in the transition boiling regime. The characteristics of maximum heat flux point in the boiling curve were found to be dependent on the studied quenching parameters as well as array of nozzles. Multiple jet arrays had effect on the spatial variation and rate of boiling heat transfer on quenching surface. Higher area-averaged and maximum surface heat flux was obtained by 2-row array while array’s total flow rate was kept constant. It was found that by impinging constant water flow rate into the jets, 2-row array with twice the number of impinging jets enhanced heat transfer significantly in film and transition boiling regime in combination with other quenching parameters.
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| 3. |
- Alieva, Jamila, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Waste under the impact of digital technologies : Evidence from European manufacturing survey (EMS)
- 2022
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Ingår i: The proceedings of the 29th international EurOMA conference.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper is based on European Manufacturing Survey collected in 2019 for five countries -Sweden, Spain, Croatia, Austria, and Slovenia. The study reveals that majority of companieshave technologies that allow them automatically to collect data. Companies are also using thedata for different purposes, and often more than one purposes. We also found that many ofcommonly used digital technologies are also associated with automatically collected data.Although the literature suggests that ignorance of data collection may lead to defects, we findno connection to actual waste in this study.
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| 4. |
- Ascic, Ivana, et al.
(författare)
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An Evaluation of Critical Capabilities and Improvement Areas for Competitive Manufacturing in a Developed-Country Environment
- 2022
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 14:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research evaluates the critical capabilities and improvement areas for competitive manufacturing in a developed-country environment. A multiple-case-study approach is applied, consisting of three manufacturing firms located in Sweden. The case study combines both quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the critical capabilities found in the extant literature. The research reveals fifteen critical capabilities and sixteen improvement areas for competitive manufacturing in a developed-country environment. The results show that the firms develop capabilities in a cumulative manner, starting with cost and quality, continuing with time and flexibility, and finally trying to improve innovation and sustainability. To develop competitive manufacturing operations in developed counties, it is therefore vital to improve capabilities related to time, flexibility, innovation, or sustainability. Irrespective of the targeted capabilities, they must contribute to cost-efficient operations and high quality must always be maintained. The efforts to develop capabilities related to innovation and sustainability may be expensive in the short term, however they can provide better cumulative results and competitiveness in the long term.
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| 5. |
- Edh Mirzaei, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Challenges to competitive manufacturing in high-cost environments: checklist and insights from Swedish manufacturing firms
- 2021
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Ingår i: Operations Management Research. - : Springer Nature. - 1936-9735 .- 1936-9743.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Research on competitive manufacturing (CM) in high-cost environments has earlier indicated that firms struggle to remain competitive and that manufacturing operations often have been offshored to low-cost environments. The purpose of this research is to explore and create a compounded view of challenges related to both internal and external environments of firms when operating in high-cost environments. This issue has been investigated through a qualitative case study involving five manufacturing firms in Sweden. This research has empirically derived the challenges associated with sustaining CM in high-cost environments and developed a prescriptive checklist. Seven main categories of challenges have been identified, ranging from a micro level related to product characteristics and employee involvement, to a macro level related to supply chain collaborations and industry systems. This research contributes to the existing literature on CM in high-cost locations by explaining and detailing what constitutes challenges in this kind of environment.
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| 6. |
- Eriksson, Stefan
(författare)
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Visual replenishment methods in the manufacturing industry and suggestion for a decision tool
- 2013
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In almost all supply chains, materials need to be stored or buffered, implying that manufacturing companies need effective replenishment methods. However, this is challenging, since companies must balance inventory costs and customer service in complex and different situations. Therefore, it is important to choose replenishment methods carefully. One well-known and widespread method is Material Requirements Planning (MRP). But the method has problems, such as regarding volume flexibility. There are other methods, but the literature lacks case studies and detailed descriptions and analysis of them, especially for visually oriented methods. Therefore, it is important to explore different methods for materials supply.The purpose of this study is to analyze the application of visually oriented replenishment methods in manufacturing industry and further to design a tentative decision tool for selecting methods. The research aims to provide some answers to three key questions.The first research question concerns general factors that are important for evaluating how effective replenishment methods are. From the literature review, different factors emerged such as product characteristics (fit in the Kraljic matrix, volume issues, size, etc.); information, trust, and geographical proximity between supplier and customer; and different logistics goals (delivery service elements, tied-up capital, use of resources, inventory accuracy). It is also import to include the basic principles methods are related to. The factors were summarized in an analysis model, which is structured with three main areas (planning environment/conditions, basic principles, and effects). The model is used to analyze four case studies.The second research question focuses on the characteristics for visually orientedreplenishment methods. Examples of characteristics are: easy to understand and operate, offers uncomplicated flows, substantially applicable for noncritical and leverage parts with high yearly requirement and fairly even consumption, provides potential for reduced errors in stores/flows, potential for providing high delivery service and low levels of tied-up capital and resource utilization.The third research question focuses on what a tentative decision tool for selecting replenishment methods might look like, based on the factors that emerged from the other research questions and studies by others. In order to achieve an efficient materials supply, companies need to consider these factors when selecting replenishment methods. The decision tool consists of different steps, considering aspects of the planning environment/conditions in relation to the product and the supplier. The importance of the companies’ goals/motives for materials supply must also be assessed. The output from the decision tool is appropriate replenishment methods.
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| 7. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Fuzzy-logic-based support tools for initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Industrial management & data systems. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0263-5577 .- 1758-5783. ; 121:5, s. 965-992
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: This paper investigates the suitability of fuzzy-logic-based support tools for initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions.Design/methodology/approach: Two fuzzy-logic-based support tools are developed together with experts from a Swedish manufacturing firm. The first uses a complete rule base and the second a reduced rule base. Sixteen inference settings are used in both of the support tools.Findings: The findings show that fuzzy-logic-based support tools are suitable for initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions. The developed support tools are capable of suggesting whether a reshoring decision should be further evaluated or not, based on six primary competitiveness criteria. In contrast to existing literature this research shows that it does not matter whether a complete or reduced rule base is used when it comes to accuracy. The developed support tools perform similarly with no statistically significant differences. However, since the interpretability is much higher when a reduced rule base is used and it require fewer resources to develop, the second tool is more preferable for initial screening purposes.Research limitations/implications: The developed support tools are implemented at a primary-criteria level and to make them more applicable, they should also include the sub-criteria level. The support tools should also be expanded to not only consider competitiveness criteria, but also other criteria related to availability of resources and strategic orientation of the firm. This requires further research with regard to multi-stage architecture and automatic generation of fuzzy rules in the manufacturing reshoring domain.Practical implications: The support tools help managers to invest their scarce time on the most promising reshoring projects and to make timely and resilient decisions by taking a holistic perspective on competitiveness. Practitioners are advised to choose the type of support tool based on the available data.Originality/value: There is a general lack of decision support tools in the manufacturing reshoring domain. This paper addresses the gap by developing fuzzy-logic-based support tools for initial screening of manufacturing reshoring decisions.
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| 8. |
- Larsson, Johan, 1979-
(författare)
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Leadership for Quality, Effectiveness and Health
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Leadership, quality, effectiveness and health are important factors in the achievement of organisational success. Three questions are addressed to study these elements: 1. How do leadership values relate to leadership behaviours, quality methodologies and health in organisations? 2. How do leadership behaviours relate to effectiveness and health in organisations? 3. How can leadership tools be designed and used to promote health in organisations? The research is based on five studies from three research projects. This research is reported in five papers. Study I concerned eight organisations in the middle of Sweden; the focus was on leadership values and behaviours. Study II concerned three successful organisations that received the award, ‘Sweden’s number one workplace’. Focus in this study was mainly on leadership behaviours. Study III combined results from Studies I and II with a focus on successful leadership behaviours. Study IV concerned the eight organisations in Study I. A leadership tool in the form of a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was developed and evaluated. Study V was of two organisations in Sweden; the focus in that work was on the use of a leadership tool control chart designed to give managers statistically valid early warning signals about health in their organisations. Theory X and Y together with the three-dimensional leadership behaviour theory were used to assess leadership values and behaviours. The theory surrounding PDSA and control charts were used to develop leadership tools. The dimension of health is defined from a salutogenic humanistic perspective; which emphasizes individual well-being. The dimension of quality is defined as the ability to satisfy or exceed needs and expectations. Effectiveness is defined as the extent to which externally and internally defined objectives are fulfilled. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. Interviews, seminars with employees, collection of human resource and effectiveness figures, and questionnaires completed by managers and subordinates were used to collect data. Managers with more Theory Y-oriented leadership values were rated by subordinates as high concerning quality methodologies and leadership behaviour dimensions. The subordinates of these managers tended to be healthier. Two of the studies identified common groups of leadership behaviours in effective and healthy organisations: strategy and vision, communication and information, authority and responsibility, learning culture, worker conversations, plainness and simplicity, humanity and trust, walking around and reflective personal leadership. These leadership behaviours fit into a leadership profile where all three of the dimensions of structure, relation and change are present. Of the three, the relation dimension is strongest and concluded to be a universal dimension. The developed PDSA model seems to be a leadership tool that influences both leadership values and behaviour, particularly in the area of relation-oriented leadership behaviours. An early warning system built on CUSUM- and Shewhartcharts concerning the health indicators of self-assessed general health and new sickcases per employee was also found to be a powerful and usable leadership tool. For future research, the explorative research findings can be quantitatively tested using representative and preferably cross-national data, with a longitudinal design.
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| 9. |
- Niss, Camilla, 1972-
(författare)
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Project Becoming and Knowing Trajectories. : An Epistemological Perspective on Human and Nonhuman Project Making.
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In our ‘projectified’ and ‘knowledge-intensive’ society, industrial projects have been proposed as important “journeys of knowledge creation” or “places for knowledge integration”. To date, such perspectives have mainly used traditional cognitive and contextual theories of knowledge and have thus mostly been focused on human actors and their interaction. However, other research suggests that a) knowledge can be seen as a process (knowing) and b) that projects can be seen as actor networks made by human as well as nonhuman elements. Combining these two insights, a complementary epistemological perspective is created in this thesis. Drawing from the processual ontological notion of ‘project becoming’ and the actor-network theory notion of ‘heterogeneous engineering’, the processual concept of heterogeneous project making is suggested here. The purpose of this thesis is then to create a processual and interrelational perspective on how knowing is shaped through heterogeneous project making. The empirical basis of this thesis consists of a six-month ethnographical study of an industrial project in the telecom industry that was set up to develop and manufacture a radio base station. The perspective presented in this thesis suggests that heterogeneous project making can be seen as the continuous shaping of past, present, future and context (knowing dimensions) which in turn shape and relate to a knowing trajectory. The notion of a knowing trajectory implies movement, a path, which is suggested here as elusive, fluent and influenced by the work of many heterogeneous actors, rather than being the result of a (socially or technologically) deterministic process. The perspective developed also conceptualises and illustrates how such a knowing trajectory takes shape. Finally, theoretical and practical implications of this perspective are suggested.
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| 10. |
- Reitsma, Ewout, et al.
(författare)
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Engaging with ‘Engineer for Supply Chain’ (EfSC) : insights from two engineer-to-order manufacturers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Production planning & control (Print). - : Taylor & Francis. - 0953-7287 .- 1366-5871.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The practice of ‘Design for Supply Chain’ (DfSC) aims at integrating strategic sourcing into manufacturers’ new product development (NPD) processes. The literature on this topic, however, mainly focuses on contexts involving high-volume, standardised products, while the engineer-to-order (ETO) context has received only limited attention. As argued in this paper, this constitutes a gap in the literature since the findings from high-volume, standardised contexts may not be directly applicable to the ETO context. To support this claim, a case study approach is used to explore DfSC in two ETO manufacturers. This paper terms this practice ‘Engineer for Supply Chain’ (EfSC) and identifies four dimensions that it comprises: (1) consideration of strategic sourcing in NPD, (2) representation of the sourcing function in NPD, (3) collaboration between the R&D and sourcing functions, and (4) adoption of methods for considering strategic sourcing in NPD. Although these dimensions partly overlap with the literature on DfSC, the characteristics of EfSC differ—most notably by requiring the consideration of strategic sourcing before the product design stage of NPD, as well as procedures that encourage this consideration. Finally, the study identifies relationships among the dimensions and develops a holistic four-step process for engaging with EfSC.
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