Until several years ago, organizations mainly focused on optimizing business processes within organizational boundary. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software had been a hot issue for companies to improve their operations. Towards the end of last century however, organizations increasingly included supply chain management, customer relationship management, and supplier relationship management in their roadmap for implementing information technology. Business-to-business (B2B) transactions and collaboration between organizations have received increasing attention. E-Procurement is an important issue of B2B transaction and collaboration. Stiff competition, fast changing customer preferences, shortening product life cycle, and product variety proliferation have pushed modern manufacturing industries to be more flexible to cope with their environments. Along with dynamic capacity allocation, efficient material procurement forms a pillar to support flexible manufacturing. Therefore, the implementation of e-procurement system in enterprise is an inevitable trend. Then the next issue comes to what benefit occur from e-procurement system? Most past research have addressed the benefit issue based on the case study of single enterprise. Little investigation has conducted quantitative research to assess the performance with respect to supplier and buyer. How to estimate the impact on performance for both of buyer and supplier as a result of implementing e-procurement system is the research issue addressed in this project. Given the web-based e-procurement system as the enterprise procurement platform, this research attempts to address the direct impact on business processes for buyers and suppliers simultaneously, and subsequently to evaluate the impact on performance for them. In addition, this research also intends to investigate the impact on relationship between buyers and suppliers. In fact, the motivation of supplier in implementing e-procurement system might be different from that of buyer, leading to different results which might occur. The questionnaire survey conducted in this research can help to evaluate the performance for buyers and suppliers.

Outline

Bakgrund: Leverantörer har en allt viktigare roll för verksamheter. Med en strävan om att kunna minska lagernivåer krävs det en kontinuerlig påfyllning av lager. För att kunna uppnå det behöver leverantörerna vara flexibla och kunna möta ändringar på kort sikt. Företag vill även försäkra sig om att leverantören kan förse deras behov även i framtiden. Detta gör att företag vill skapa sig en förståelse av hur väl leverantörerna presterar och kunna vidta åtgärder för att förebygga problem, något som kan göras genom prestationsmätning av leverantörer. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att kartlägga Carlsberg Sverige´s process för prestationsmätning av sina leverantörer samt finna brister som påverkar processen. Studien syftar även till att rangordna Carlsberg Sverige’s leverantörers prestationer. Slutligen ska studien ge förbättringsförslag till prestationsmätningsprocessen utifrån funna brister samt undersöka vad Carlsberg Sverige’s kan göra för att vidare utveckla rangordningen av leverantörer. Metod: Studien har genomförts via ostrukturerade intervjuer, semi-strukturerade intervjuer, observationer samt insamling av data från affärssystemet SAP och Supplier Performance. I början av studien genomfördes en processkartläggningen för att identifiera brister som påverkar processen för prestationsmätning av leverantörer. Vidare gjordes en rangordning av Carlsberg Sverige´s leverantörer utifrån deras prestationer. Slutligen presenteras en åtgärdsplan för hur Carlsberg Sverige ska kunna gå vidare med bristerna samt att vidare utveckla rangordningen för deras leverantörer. Slutsats: Författarna av studien har identifierat brister som påverkar Carlsberg Sverige´s process för prestationsmätning av leverantörer och givit förslag på åtgärdsplaner hur man ska gå tillväga för att komma till bukt med bristerna. Brister som 4 identifierats är bland annat att företaget har ett svårhanterligt verktyg för prestationsmätning av leverantörer samt att det saknas incitament att rapportera i verktyget. Det har även funnits brister i arbete med prognoser, produktionsplanering och operativt inköp som påverkar prestationsmätningen. Därefter har också en rangordning av företagets tio viktigaste leverantörer av förpackningsmaterial samt rangordning för de tio viktigaste råvaruleverantörer genomförts. Det har även givits förslag på hur rangordningen av leverantörer kan förbättras i framtiden. / Background: Suppliers nowadays play a large part for producing companies. These companies strive for less inventory and therefore there is a need for continuous replenishment of stocks. To achieve this, the suppliers need to be flexible and able to meet changes in short time demand. Companies also want to ensure that the suppliers can meet their demand of material in the future. It is therefore of great interest for the companies to understand how well the suppliers are performing, which can be done using performance measurements. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to map out Carlsberg Sverige’s process for performance measurement of their suppliers and identify problems affecting the process. The study also aims to find a way to rank Carlsberg Sverige’s suppliers. Finally, the identified problems in the process will be given suggestions of improvements. Likewise, the way of ranking will be given suggestions of improvements. Method: The data for this study has been collected using unstructured interviews. semistructured interviews, but also through observations and data from SAP and Carlsberg Sverige’s developed tool for performance measurement. To identify problems in the process, mapping out the process was essential. After that a ranking was made of the suppliers’ performances. Lastly the suggestions for improvement of the process and the ranking was made. Conclusion: The authors of this study has identified problems in Carlsberg Sverige’s process of performance measurements of suppliers and have created plans for improvement. The problems of the process is for instance that the tool for performance measurements of suppliers is not user friendly and that the users of the tool lack 6 incentives to report deviations. There has also been identified problems in forecasting, production planning and operative purchasing that are affecting the process. Carlsberg Sverige’s ten most important suppliers of packaging materials as well as the ten most important suppliers of raw materials have been ranked depening on their performances. The study also gives suggestions of further developement of the ranking.

The diploma thesis is focused on the performance evaluation of key suppliers in the terms of quality in selected cosmetic company. The aim of this thesis is to propose a solution of the assigned project task, based on short-term internship and theoretical knowledge, concerning the graphical visualization of key suppliers performance evaluation. The work is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part describes basic information about management quality system, it´s principles, conceptions and tools. There is also a closer look at the importance of purchasing department and the suppliers performance evaluating methods. The practical part includes characteristics of selected cosmetic company and processes of the quality control department are described, including laboratory tests. Withing the given project, the practical part is further divided into 6 tasks. The main task involves designing a platform for a simple and effective evaluation of the key suppliers performance in terms of quality. Other sub-tasks involved the compilation of strategic suppliers, a proposal for categorizing suppliers, and for the needs of the organization, also a procedure for communication with suppliers in case the quality requirements were not met.

Aims and Objectives of Research. 1. To develop a 'one stop' generic decision making matrix (Outsourcing Decision Model) that provides the necessary clarity into defining whether an organisation should proceed with an outsourcing initiative or not. This would be based upon a distillation of existing models and reviewed literature. With the recognition that there may be subsequent advantages following the process, the model will include not only these but a means of evaluation in order to ascertain whether or not an outsourcing initiative may be or was successful or not. This latter aspect must logically be viewed as very important as an outsourcer must be aware of the benefits and also whether or not they were achieved. In addition, the model would include sufficient guidance with potential supporting metrics and their application. 2. To validate the Outsourcing Model through specific case studies using a triangulated approach in comparing the selected automotive OEM with some of its major competitors. Within the context of the case study, the research would also attempt to understand how the subject outsourcing organisation compares to its major competitors in equivalent comparable products and whether or not this reflects in the success of these companies. This case study not only provides a means of reinforcing the remaining case studies by using a triangulated method of application to the research developed outsourcing decision model but also provides a deeper understanding of the context of the supplier and competitors within the industry. 3. To test, via case studies the effect of specificity relating to the outsourced end product rather than the outsourced entity. This aspect provides the deepest application to the researched outsourcing decision model and therefore the most comprehensive validation. In addition, because the case studies are retrospective, they have the benefit of providing data to establish the level of success. This would be very important, particularly as it would enable a focus on particular criteria that failed to highlight a particular outcome and therefore provide a chance to make amendments. Low specificity is a well established criterion in defining an outsourced entity which is reflected within the body of the research. The further extension of this theory towards the outsourcing of and outsourced entity related to an established previously outsourced commodity is a new concept with no identifiable literature or evidence relating to its importance. The fact that it provides an element within the research that is potentially unique and carries no extra task burden it has been captured as an added element within the two important validation case studies: 4. To evaluate if outsourcing performance can be enhanced through the introduction of a second supplier into a single supplier sourcing situation. Subsequent to outsourcing, this aim and objective focuses upon the possibility of enhancing performance through the introduction of a second supplier. Particularly in cases whereby expertise may have been lost from an outsourcer, ultimate results relating to the outsourced entity may be compromised through either opportunism or diminished supplier performance. Whether these aspects are deliberate or unintended, an outsourcer should have some means of mitigating this risk. This mitigation may potentially be enabled through the use of a second supplier in order to provide a degree of competition. 5. To identify a link between Specificity, Commonality and Platform Sharing. The Author's professional role was very heavily based around the modern practices within the Automotive Industry. Outsourcing, platform sharing and commonality are well publicised strategies that have been adopted by various car manufacturers in order to gain efficiencies. Research was carried out in order to provide a better understanding of these strategies and to establish if there is any link between them. A confirmation of any linkages may then provide potential for establishing greater synergies between them.

The lifecycle of fashion products get shorter and shorter. Companies in the fashion business needto make sure that they can offer their customers the right products, in the right quantity at theexact right time. The competition on the fashion market today is tough and if companies aregoing to be successful they need to have access to the most reliable suppliers, and also offer theircustomers products with high quality to attractive prices. It is therefore of highest importance toevaluate and choose the right sourcing strategy. Product category and type of organisation aresome of the factors that will determine which strategy that is most appropriate. The purpose withthis study is to investigate the possibilities for Swedish fashion brands to source from thePortuguese and the Chinese supplier markets. Based on selected theories and empirics we havedetermined the advantages and disadvantages for a Swedish company with small quantities andfocus on design on both markets. Since we had the opportunity to visit a Portuguese sourcingcompany the main focus will be on Portugal in this study.We have used a hermeneutic perspective in our study and have alternated between theory andempirics. We have been working close to our objects of the study and tried to put our results intoa bigger perspective to be able to get a greater understanding for the subject. Our empirics arebased on the interviews we made at the Portuguese sourcing company and at their sister companyin Gothenburg. The theory and empirical materials have been analysed and our conclusions arebased on these results.Our conclusion is that both the Portuguese and Chinese supplier market can be a good alternativefor Swedish fashion brands with small quantities and focus on design. Both markets havedifferent advantages and disadvantages regarding supplier performance such as price, quality,flexibility and lead times. We think that the selection of supplier market should be based uponorganizational and product issues like volume and the importance of design. / Program: Textilekonomutbildningen

This thesis focuses on product design change in the fast fashion market and its impact on supplier companies. Theorizing from the relationship between product design and suppliers within an overarching framework of the supply chain and product design literatures, the research develops what impact product design changes have on supplier companies and how those changes connect to the performance of supplier companies. The multiple case study draws on interview data with 20 participants from a famous high-street fashion retailer and eight of its suppliers. This research validates that product design changes in the fast fashion market have physical and non-physical impacts across supplier company departments, and shows that these impacts connect significantly to the performance of supplier companies. This research contributes to the supply chain and product design literatures by providing an understanding of how product design changes create chain-like-effects, both internally and externally to supplier companies. This can catalyse supplier company strategy, which mitigates product design change to avoid this chain-like-effect. Practically, this thesis offers guidance for retailers and suppliers in creating solutions for the problems that they encounter during the product design change process by revealing the cause and effect relationship of product design changes and supplier companies. The results are currently limited to the fashion industry, and they are yet to be generalised to other buyer-driven commodity chains. Future research should focus on best practices for management to deal with the impact of product design change and in consideration in other industries.

Aims and Objectives of Research. 1. To develop a ¿one stop¿ generic decision making matrix (Outsourcing Decision Model) that provides the necessary clarity into defining whether an organisation should proceed with an outsourcing initiative or not. This would be based upon a distillation of existing models and reviewed literature. With the recognition that there may be subsequent advantages following the process, the model will include not only these but a means of evaluation in order to ascertain whether or not an outsourcing initiative may be or was successful or not. This latter aspect must logically be viewed as very important as an outsourcer must be aware of the benefits and also whether or not they were achieved. In addition, the model would include sufficient guidance with potential supporting metrics and their application. 2. To validate the Outsourcing Model through specific case studies using a triangulated approach in comparing the selected automotive OEM with some of its major competitors. Within the context of the case study, the research would also attempt to understand how the subject outsourcing organisation compares to its major competitors in equivalent comparable products and whether or not this reflects in the success of these companies. This case study not only provides a means of reinforcing the remaining case studies by using a triangulated method of application to the research developed outsourcing decision model but also provides a deeper understanding of the context of the supplier and competitors within the industry. 3. To test, via case studies the effect of specificity relating to the outsourced end product rather than the outsourced entity. This aspect provides the deepest application to the researched outsourcing decision model and therefore the most comprehensive validation. In addition, because the case studies are retrospective, they have the benefit of providing data to establish the level of success. This would be very important, particularly as it would enable a focus on particular criteria that failed to highlight a particular outcome and therefore provide a chance to make amendments. Low specificity is a well established criterion in defining an outsourced entity which is reflected within the body of the research. The further extension of this theory towards the outsourcing of and outsourced entity related to an established previously outsourced commodity is a new concept with no identifiable literature or evidence relating to its importance. The fact that it provides an element within the research that is potentially unique and carries no extra task burden it has been captured as an added element within the two important validation case studies: 4. To evaluate if outsourcing performance can be enhanced through the introduction of a second supplier into a single supplier sourcing situation. Subsequent to outsourcing, this aim and objective focuses upon the possibility of enhancing performance through the introduction of a second supplier. Particularly in cases whereby expertise may have been lost from an outsourcer, ultimate results relating to the outsourced entity may be compromised through either opportunism or diminished supplier performance. Whether these aspects are deliberate or unintended, an outsourcer should have some means of mitigating this risk. This mitigation may potentially be enabled through the use of a second supplier in order to provide a degree of competition. 5. To identify a link between Specificity, Commonality and Platform Sharing. The Author's professional role was very heavily based around the modern practices within the Automotive Industry. Outsourcing, platform sharing and commonality are well publicised strategies that have been adopted by various car manufacturers in order to gain efficiencies. Research was carried out in order to provide a better understanding of these strategies and to establish if there is any link between them. A confirmation of any linkages may then provide potential for establishing greater synergies between them. / Ford Motor Company Ltd.

The medical device manufacturing industry has a deficiency in determining how to improve supplier performance for the components and systems they purchase. Many complex medical devices require components from superb suppliers. But how does a medical device manufacturer (MDM) impartially assess supplier performance to know which suppliers to continuing with (or even boost purchase volumes) and which suppliers they should exit? This study describes which supplier-specific metrics are most important to medical device manufacturers (MDMs) so they can utilize this supplier performance scorecard backed by real-world inputs. This research will focus on five categories to measure MDM supplier performance (Quality, Price, Delivery, Customer Service, and Partnership) across twenty-three (23) metrics. Because this is a focus of MDM supplier performance, we are not focusing on analysis of device sales to the final customer (e.g., distributors or group purchasing organizations {GPO}). The study will follow a framework including research analysis of supplier performance management in other industries, methods to attain data from MDMs via survey, results and analysis of the data, conclusions, and an easily understandable MDM supplier performance scorecard. In the survey, 135 MDM professionals replied when asked to rate twenty-three (23) supplier performance metrics, across five (5) categories aggregated from nine (9) different industries. The survey yielded a myriad of results including, weighting factors of each of the metrics, and those data results were used to compile an MDM supplier performance scorecard utilizing real-world feedback. The analysis revealed the ratings of importance of the categories as: Quality (43%), Delivery (24%), Customer Service (4%), Partnership (13%), Price (8%) and associated weights for the twenty-three (23) metrics that matter most to an MDM when creating a performance scorecard for their supplier base. Three contributions that this research will add to the body of knowledge: An in-depth review of supplier performance across many different industries (i.e., non-healthcare and healthcare) for contrasting/comparing evidence. A detailed MDM survey and statistical analysis on the topic of supplier performance management. An easily understandable and useable MDM supplier performance scorecard (via MS Excel) for MDM supply chain and/or operations users and/or managers.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore green sourcing in supply chain management by the example of two large organisations. Design/methodology/approach – This study followed an iterative cycle of reviewing literature and empirics as well as conducting analysis and discussion. The literature gathered for this thesis was collected by reviewing ten academic journals as well as publications found through database search. Empirical data was collected from two case organisations, ABB Robotics and Vattenfall, through interviews, internal documents and public statements. The empirical data was analysed separately for each case organisation by use of an analytical model constructed from the literature findings. Thereafter, similarities and differences between the organisations were discussed as well as the thesis’ contributions to green sourcing literature. Findings – We found that although both ABB Robotics and Vattenfall incorporate environmental sustainability to some degree in their respective sourcing processes, their individual performance differed. The main difference between the organisations was found to be the visibility and managerial drive towards the realisation of environmental goals within the sourcing department. From our observations, it was found that Vattenfall to a large extent embraced their environmental goals and that these trickled down to the sourcing department. ABB Robotics on the other hand had numerous environmental goals on corporate level but these lacked visibility in the sourcing department. In comparison to our literature findings is was found that for environmental goals, Vattenfall was in more alignment with the suggestions by the scholars. For the other identified areas important for green sourcing, that being supplier assessment, supplier performance evaluation and supplier collaboration, both organisations were more aligned with our literature findings. Practical implications – In this thesis, four primary elements of green sourcing have been identified: environmental goals, supplier assessment, supplier performance evaluation, and supplier collaborations. Out of these, we found that the first element, environmental goals, is an enabler for the other elements of green sourcing to further evolve and is therefore essential for green sourcing. Originality/value – By looking beyond public statements and policies of environmental sustainability, this thesis has provided a unique insight in how two large organisations have implemented environmental sustainability in practice, from a sourcing perspective.