| 1. |
- Johansson, Peter, Associate professor, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Integrating advanced digital technologies in existing lean-based production systems : analysis of paradoxes, imbalances and management strategies
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Operations & Production Management. - : EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0144-3577 .- 1758-6593.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of paradoxes, underlying tensions and potential management strategies when integrating digital technologies into existing lean-based production systems (LPSs), with the aim of achieving synergies and fostering the development of production systems.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a collaborative management research (CMR) approach to identify patterns of organisational tensions and paradoxes and explore management strategies to overcome them. The data were collected through interviews and focus group interviews with experts on lean and/or digital technologies from the companies, from documents and from workshops with the in-case researchers.FindingsThe findings of this paper provide insights into the salient organisational paradoxes embraced in the integration of digital technologies in LPS by identifying different aspects of the performing, organising, learning and belonging paradoxes. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the intricacies and relatedness between different paradoxes and their resolutions, and more specifically, how a resolution strategy adopted to manage one paradox might unintentionally generate new tensions. This, in turn, calls for either re-contextualising actions to counteract the drift or the adoption of new resolution strategies.Originality/valueThis paper adds perspective to operations management (OM) research through the use of paradox theory, and we (1) provide a fine-grained perspective on why integration sometimes "fails" and label the forces of internal drift as mechanisms of imbalances and (2) provide detailed insights into how different management and resolution strategies are adopted, especially by identifying re-contextualising actions as a key to rebalancing organisational paradoxes in favour of the integration of digital technologies in LPSs.
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| 2. |
- Toorajipour, Reza
(författare)
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Circular Business Models for Electric Vehicle Battery Second Life : Challenges, enablers, and preconditions from an ecosystem perspective
- 2023
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sustainability has become a critical issue due to global warming, scarcity of resources, and the high costs of raw materials. It is vital to reconsider linear business models and value creation processes and transition towards circularity. The growth of the electric vehicles market is promising; however, it comes with a major downside. Soon there will be a considerable number of used batteries without the original capacity and potentially hazardous that cannot go to landfill due to environmental and economic reasons. In this regard, the use of electric vehicle batteries in second life (EVBSL) is suggested as a solution. EVBSL comes with benefits such as the extension of the battery life cycle, extracting value from the remaining capacity of the battery, reduction in the upfront costs of the electric vehicle, and create new revenue streams for the companies. And since various actors are involved in EVBSL, it is essential to study this phenomenon from an ecosystem perspective.Despite the recent focus of researchers on EVBSL, there are several gaps in the current literature on this topic. The first gap concerns the challenges and enablers of implementing circular business models (CBMs) for EVBSL. The second gap concerns the second life operations of electric vehicles (EV). There is a lack of research on the solutions that can guide the ecosystem actors to manage EVBSL-related activities. And the third gap concerns the limited research on the preconditions of circular business model innovation for the EVBSL that focuses on the transition from linear business models to CBMs. Therefore, this thesis aims to develop knowledge of the factors that influence the implementation of CBMs for EVBSL from an ecosystem perspective.This study intends to address these gaps by conducting qualitative research. An exploratory research design has been deemed adequate due to its flexibility and compatibility. This research draws on the existing literature on the second life of EV batteries, and circular business models. In total, 20 interviews and 15 workshops have been conducted covering 15 companies in the EVBSL ecosystem. Purposeful sampling was employed to select the EVBSL ecosystem actors with the aim of covering the key actors such as OEMs, battery manufacturer, recycling companies, remanufacturers, energy utility companies, material supplier for battery parts, construction and housing company, and public transportation companies. The collected data was analyzed via qualitative methods such as thematic analysis. The results of this study have led to the identification of nine key challenges and seven key enablers. Moreover, two dimensions (i.e., time frame and responsible entity) are identified from the empirical data, through which companies can structurally categorize and work with the identified key challenges and enablers. Based on this, a guiding framework is suggested that could support firms in the EV battery ecosystem to establish and manage various configurations for second-life operations in a series of phases such as firm-level initiation, ecosystem construction, firm-level optimization, and ecosystem orchestration. Finally, the current linear business models (traditional sales of products and services, product maintenance and support, R&D, consultancy, and services), upcoming CBMs (regenerating, looping, and sharing), and the preconditions (for value creation, capture, and delivery) for the circular business model innovation are extracted. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in several ways. It enhances the current literature on challenges and enablers of EVBSL by covering various actors in this ecosystem and extends the knowledge on the scope of these factors. Moreover, this study is the first one that suggests a guiding framework for the ecosystem actors through configurations for second-life operations while shedding light on the preconditions of circular business innovation for EVBSL. This study also provides interesting insights for practitioners and managers in the EVBSL ecosystem.
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| 3. |
- Åkesson, Jennie
(författare)
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Design of Product-Service Systems in SMEs : Exploring challenges and the influence of firm characteristics
- 2022
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The manufacturing industry is essential in the transition towards a Circular Economy and a more sustainable society. One way manufacturing companies can become more sustainable and contribute to a resource-efficient society is by offering Product-Service Systems (PSS). PSS means integrating products and services through different types of business models, such as product pooling, leasing, sharing, and other product-related services. Designing PSS is both about the tangible product offering and the design of the complete system around the product. Therefore, it is required for manufacturing companies to have a systems approach when designing PSS. The majority of studies in the PSS field have been conducted from a large-company perspective, and it has been limited focus considering the context and characteristics of SMEs. This thesis aims to contribute to the PSS and servitisation literature by addressing the research gap and lack of insights in studies related to PSS design in a manufacturing SME context.This research is based on a systematic literature review and empirical data from three contract manufacturing SMEs. The findings show that SMEs face both internal and external challenges when designing PSS. The challenges identified are related to several parts of the organisation and are also interconnected and overlapping. Besides, SMEs' characteristics also influence these challenges, showing the importance of the context when discussing challenges in designing PSS in SMEs. The study shows that characteristics such as lack of financial resources influence more than one challenge, making it difficult for SMEs to know which challenges to prioritise when designing PSS. Also, as the studied SMEs are contract manufacturers to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), they need acceptance and support from their OEM customers, but they may not gain customer acceptance. The study indicates that SMEs need to decide if they should design PSS with their customers or find a business opportunity and design PSS independently, despite lacking vital resources needed for PSS design.Keywords: Product-Service Systems, Small and medium-sized enterprises, Servitization, challenges, SME characteristics, manufacturing companies, circular economy
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| 4. |
- Javadi, Siavash, 1984-
(författare)
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Product Introduction in Low-volume Manufacturing : from an Information Quality Perspective
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Manufacturing companies must continually innovate and introduce new products to compete globally, relying on a well-executed product introduction process for success. This involves a successful transition from design to production, ensuring alignment between product and production systems. A successful product introduction process results in a shorter time-to-market and fewer production disruptions. Collaboration and information sharing between design and production are pivotal, with the content quality of shared information crucial to the product introduction process.Low-volume manufacturing companies are integral to the European manufacturing sector but face unique challenges with regard to new product introduction due to their specific characteristics. Existing studies often overlook low-volume manufacturing, leading to a lack of comprehensive understanding, particularly regarding the role of information quality in the process.This research project aims to examine the product introduction process in low-volume manufacturing by focusing on the role of information content quality. To fulfil this aim, seven case studies were conducted in two manufacturing companies to investigate the influences of the characteristics of products and production systems in low-volume manufacturing on the product introduction process, the role of information content quality in the process, and the management strategies that enhance information content quality.The findings of this thesis map the characteristics of products and production systems in low-volume manufacturing and their influences on the product introduction process. The characteristics, activities, and phases of the product introduction process for low-volume products are thus defined. Moreover, the types and sources of disturbances during product introduction in low-volume manufacturing are identified. Furthermore, the role of information content quality in the low-volume product introduction process and the identified disturbances are investigated. Information correctness, completeness, accuracy, clarity, consistency and timeliness are identified as dimensions of information content quality affected by the characteristics of product introduction in low-volume manufacturing. Additionally, adapting product introduction management strategies to suit the requirements and characteristics of low-volume manufacturing is investigated, with a focus on enhancing the quality of information in the design–production interface. In total, the study identifies four main product introduction management strategies that are well suited to companies in low-volume manufacturing. Finally, the study explores the integration of advanced digital technology practices – such as interactive digital design reviews, digital test assemblies, virtual builds and digital clinics – into various product introduction management strategies to improve information content quality.This research contributes to the product introduction research area by delving into aspects of the process in low-volume manufacturing. It specifically addresses the role of information content quality and management strategies for improving information quality. The findings will benefit practitioners in low-volume manufacturing by providing insights into process characteristics and challenges in their industry.
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| 5. |
- Agerskans, Natalie, et al.
(författare)
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Critical Factors for Selecting and Integrating Digital Technologies to Enable Smart Production : A Data Value Chain Perspective
- 2023
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Ingår i: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. - : Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. - 9783031436611 ; , s. 311-325
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the development towards Industry 5.0, manufacturing companies are developing towards Smart Production, i.e., using data as a resource to interconnect the elements in the production system to learn and adapt accordingly for a more resource-efficient and sustainable production. This requires selecting and integrating digital technologies for the entire data lifecycle, also referred to as the data value chain. However, manufacturing companies are facing many challenges related to building data value chains to achieve the desired benefits of Smart Production. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the critical factors of selecting and integrating digital technologies for efficiently benefiting data value chains for Smart Production. This paper employed a qualitative-based multiple case study design involving manufacturing companies within different industries and of different sizes. The paper also analyses two Smart Production cases in detail by mapping the data flow using a technology selection and integration framework to propose solutions to the existing challenges. By analyzing the two in-depth studies and additionally two reference cases, 13 themes of critical factors for selecting and integrating digital technologies were identified.
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| 6. |
- Agerskans, Natalie, et al.
(författare)
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Enabling Smart Production : The Role of Data Value Chain
- 2022
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Ingår i: Advances in Production Management Systems. Smart Manufacturing and Logistics Systems: Turning Ideas into Action. - Cham : Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. - 9783031164101 ; , s. 477-485
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- To stay competitive, manufacturing companies are developing towards Smart Production which requires the use of digital technologies. However, there is a lack of guidance supporting manufacturing companies in selecting and integrating a combination of suitable digital technologies, which is required for Smart Production. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is twofold: (i) to identify the main challenges of selecting and integrating digital technologies for Smart Production, and (ii) to propose a holistic concept to support manufacturing companies in mitigating identified challenges in order to select and integrate a combination of digital technologies for Smart Production. This is accomplished by using a qualitative-based multiple case study design. This paper identifies current challenges related to selection and integration of digital technologies. To overcome these challenges and achieve Smart production, the concept of data value chain was proposed, i.e., a holistic approach to systematically map and improve data flows within the production system. © 2022, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.
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| 7. |
- Chirumalla, Koteshwar, Associate Professor
(författare)
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Building digitally-enabled process innovation in the process industries : A dynamic capabilities approach
- 2021
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Ingår i: Technovation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-4972 .- 1879-2383. ; 105
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Digitalization and industry 4.0 technologies promise to provide many novel opportunities and benefits to industrial firms, such as increased product quality, process reliability, and improved flexibility and productivity. Although digitalization shows great potential from a technological perspective, many process industry firms still face challenges in utilizing it for process innovations. Hence, this study aims to understand how process industry firms develop and implement new process innovations today and identify improvement opportunities through the better adoption and implementation of digitalization. The study adopted a multiple case study design in two steel manufacturing firms and developed a framework for building digitally-enabled process innovation using dynamic capabilities. The framework consists of 19 dynamic capabilities in total: 8 related to traditional process innovation and 11 related to digitally enabled process innovation. The study found four key challenges in process innovation (i.e., poor data strategy and readiness, lack of standardisation practices for change, competence and culture gaps, and ad-hoc problem solving) and four key enablers for digitally-enabled process innovation (i.e., infrastructure and methodological definition, preparation for predictive and analytical readiness, proactive management practices, and plan for a digital matureness for each function and department). The study's detailed empirical insights provide new understandings regarding required dynamic capabilities for the smoother transformation of a firm from the traditional process innovation to the digitally enabled process innovation. The dynamic capabilities are limitedly explored in the research of the process industries in the context of process innovation and digitalization. Thus, this study makes essential contributions to the theory of process innovation in process industries and strategic management by providing rich empirical insights from the steel sector.
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| 8. |
- Chirumalla, Koteshwar, Associate Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Circular Business Models for the Electric Vehicle Battery Second Life : Navigating Battery Ecosystem Actors Towards Circularity
- 2024
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The electrification of vehicles has become a critical means to achieve climate-neutral transportation. As more electric vehicles (EV) are adopted, an increasing number of lithiumion batteries will be utilized, inevitably experiencing capacity degradation over time. Retaining the value of these retired batteries through remanufacturing, reusing, and repurposing to create a second life holds significant environmental and economic benefits. However, many companies within the battery ecosystem struggle to capitalize on this opportunity due to a lack of business insight and suitable business models tailored to their operational contexts.The ReCreate (Second Life Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries) research project was initiated to address these industrial needs through close collaboration with selected companies in the battery ecosystem. The project aims to define appropriate circular business models, methods, and processes to guide battery ecosystem actors in developing and implementing electric vehicle battery second life solutions, thereby advancing circularity around batteries and climate-neutral objectives. This handbook represents the culmination of three years of research within the ReCreate project. Its purpose is to present a simplified and practical overview of project outcomes across a series of key chapters. Comprising six chapters, the handbook will begin by discussing barriers and enablers, followed by circular business models and battery ecosystem management. It will then delve into design principles and performance monitoring guidelines, concluding with an integrated framework for second life and circular solutions for EV batteries. Each chapter briefly presents the main findings of the theme and concludes with discussion questions. The discussion questions include suggestions for relevant templates for workshops, and all templates are conveniently provided in the appendix for practical application. These templates serve as boundary objects, offering a starting point for internal and external cross-functional and cross-organizational dialogues within the electric vehicle battery ecosystem. They facilitate discussions and collaborations among various stakeholders, fostering alignment and synergy in developing circular business models for the second life of EV batteries. By facilitating reflection on current business strategies, needs, and pain points, the handbook aims to aid in the definition of future second life business strategies. We anticipate that this handbook will serve as a valuable resource for actors within the EV battery ecosystem, supporting their journey towards climate-neutral transportation.
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| 9. |
- Chirumalla, Koteshwar, Associate Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Configurations for second-life operations of electric vehicle batteries : A guiding framework for ecosystem management
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Firms need multi-stakeholder ecosystems to create successful second-life business models for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. However, there is a lack of guiding instrumentsto support the process of strategizing and managing the EV battery ecosystem for secondlife operations. The purpose of this study is to propose a guiding framework that could support firms in the EV battery ecosystem to establish and manage various configurations for second-life operations. The study developed a framework with four configuration phases—namely, firm-level initiation, ecosystem construction, firm-level optimization, and ecosystem orchestration. Based on these phases, the paper describes three configuration pathways to establish and manage second-life operations
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| 10. |
- Chirumalla, Koteshwar, Associate Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Elevating B2B Mobility with Sharing Autonomous Electric Vehicles : Exploring Prerequisite Criteria and Innovative Business Models
- 2023
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). - 2071-1050. ; 15:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transition towards a circular economy compels manufacturing companies in the transportation industry to reassess how they create, deliver, and capture value for their customers. Autonomous electric vehicles, with their advanced connectivity, autonomy, and efficiency, offer innovative business opportunities and services. However, there is limited knowledge concerning the sharing of autonomous electric vehicles in the business-to-business (B2B) market, particularly for industrial manufacturing companies. This study aims to identify the prerequisite criteria and potential innovative business models for sharing autonomous electric vehicles within a B2B context. To investigate this phenomenon, the study employs a case study approach within the heavy-duty vehicle industry, which involves a vehicle manufacturer and customers from a specific industry sector. The findings reveal that economic gain, service quality, and accessibility serve as prerequisite criteria for sharing autonomous electric vehicles in a B2B context. Furthermore, by leveraging a morphological framework, the study outlines five business model scenarios to explore the potential of sharing autonomous electric vehicles in enhancing B2B mobility. This research contributes to the field of business model innovation in a B2B context by introducing a model that delineates both the prerequisite criteria and potential business model concepts for the B2B sharing of autonomous electric vehicles.
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