In den letzten Jahren verzeichneten viele mittelständische Unternehmen ein überdurchschnittliches Unternehmenswachstum. Häufig gerät die Zielsetzung des Unternehmenswachstums jedoch mit anderen Zielsetzungen wie der Bestandsreduktion oder einer erhöhten Kunden- und Prozessorientierung in eine Art Wettbewerb. Um eine Harmonisierung zwischen den Anforderungen der Wachstumsstrategie und der Supply-Chain-Gestaltung zu erreichen, bedarf es einer Aufbereitung der Wechselwirkungen zwischen der Wachstumsstrategie und den Supply Chain Methoden. Ausgehend von dieser Problemstellung wurde ein Modellansatz entwickelt, welche die Interdependenzen zwischen den Wachstumsstrategien und den Gestaltungselementen der Supply Chain darstellt. Im Rahmen des Konzeptes werden anhand der vier Handlungsfelder (Prozess, Struktur, Collaboration und IT) aufgezeigt, wie ein Unternehmen eine an die Wachstumsstrategie angepasste Supply-Chain-Gestaltung vornehmen kann.

As the product-release cycle in the tech industry speeds up, there is more pressure on manufacturers to bring new products to market faster than ever. This puts a great deal of pressure on the suppliers of capital equipment used to manufacture these tech products. The supply chain agility of these suppliers is increasingly important. The purpose of this study is three-fold (1) to develop a methodology that can be used by any firm for measuring and ranking the agility of suppliers and finding the root causes of supplier agility, (2) to develop the first-ever fully quantitative measure of supply chain agility, and (3) to test if the supply chain management practices that are associated with agility in the academic literature are truly correlated with supply chain agility. Using the outlined methodology in this paper, the data suggest that the customer's current system and processes adequately met the need for short-notice, expedited build times. However, many processes and communications between the suppliers and customer have a lot of room for improvement that may positively impact the supply chain agility of suppliers. Since most every firm captures this same data, such as PO create dates and supplier ship dates, any firm can and should replicate this analysis to discover their suppliers' unique drivers of supply chain agility. Each supplier's historical agility was measured and ranked using historical order performance data. This agility score is the first of its kind to measure agility without the use of qualitative factors or self-reported measures of agility. Only three of the supply chain survey questions developed from or borrowed from the academic literature were correlated with supply chain agility in this study. Survey responses regarding the frequency of communication and information sharing are two examples of variables that were not associated with supplier supply chain agility. The only survey question response that was found to be positively correlated with supply chain agility involves the agile practice of delayed product differentiation. Contrary to the literature, two questions involving supplier-customer communication and the linking of order management system were found to be negatively correlated with supply chain agility. In regards to the non-survey, historical data, the independent variables that were correlated with agility highlighted the need for improved systems and processes between the suppliers and customer. Two examples of processes and systems that need improvement are expedited build time requests and PO swaps.

This master thesis concerns the design of DC power suply, which will be used for technological processes in engineering. This thesis concludes design of components and control curcuits for switching power supply. Output parameters of the machine will be measured.

The blood supply chain, starting from the donor until the blood is used to meet transfusion demands of patients, is a multi-echelon and complex system. The perishable and lifesaving characteristics of blood products, such as red blood cells and platelets, as well as uncertainties in both supply and demand make it difficult to maintain a balance between shortage and wastage due to expiry. An effective blood supply chain should be able to meet the demand while at the same time reducing wastage and total operational cost. In order to be cost effective, the related organizations have to decide how much blood should be collected from donors, how much blood products should be produced at the blood center, and how much blood products should be distributed to hospitals or transshipped between hospitals. The objective of this dissertation is to provide these tactical and operational decisions to guide those who work in healthcare supply chain management and explore new opportunities on performance improvement for an integrated blood supply chain by optimization with aim of minimizing total cost, consideration of transshipment between hospitals, and application of a coordinated multi-product model. This dissertation presents three multi-stage stochastic models for an integrated blood supply chain to minimize total cost incurred in the collection, production, inventory, and distribution echelons under centralized control. The scope of this study focuses on modeling a supply chain of blood products in one regional blood center, several hospitals and blood collection facilities. First, we develop an integrated model for the platelet supply chain that accounts for demand uncertainty and blood age information, then we develop this model further by investigating the impact of transshipment between hospitals on cost savings, and then we propose a multi-product model that accounts for red blood cells and platelets at the same time and compare it with an uncoordinated model where the red blood cell and platelet supply chains are considered separately.

The aim of my master’s thesis is the design and implementation of laboratory power supply with output parameters 0-25V and 0-2A and options to manage this resource by elements of the front panel or via a computer control program. Content is the theoretical analysis of the possibility of subsequent theoretical sources suggesting that it verified on the prototype laboratory resources.

Byggbranschen karakteriseras av projektbaserade organisationer och temporära försörjningskedjor. Branschen är spridd på många aktörer och det ställer höga krav på kommunikationen mellan dem. Traditionellt sett har företagen arbetat självständigt utan koppling till de andra medlemmarna i försörjningskedjan men fördelarna med att samarbeta över de organisatoriska gränserna börjar bli allt tydligare. Förändringen grundar sig i att kunderna har mer inflytande på marknaden och det är därför viktigare för företagen att snabbt reagera på förändringar i trender och skapa kvalitativa produkter till låga kostnader. Att styra och leda flödet av material, information och pengar i försörjningskedjan från tillverkning till slutprodukt är därför vital för att behålla konkurrenskraften i organisationerna.   Utvecklingen med digitaliseringen har lett till att kvalitativ data krävs för att utreda hur ny teknik kan implementeras i syfte att förbättra försörjningskedjans flöden. För att identifiera effekten av förändringar utförs därför en nulägeskartläggning av material- och informationsflödet för ett köks försörjningskedja. Studien visar hur flödet fungerar i nuläget och belyser processer som kan förbättras med hjälp av ny teknik. Utredningen är baserad på intervjuer och observationer från Marbodals fabrik till inbyggnadsplatsen för en köksleverans i ett NCC projekt. Insamlad data har därefter analyserats utifrån den initiala litteraturstudiens teorimodell och aktiviteterna i materialflödet. Köksleveransen valdes med avseende på att det är en vanligt förekommande leverans vid både ny- och ombyggnation. Den innehåller även en viss komplexitet, dels i tillverkningen men även i materialhanteringen. I studien identifierades slöserier i material- och informationsflödet. Dessa berör främst materialhanteringen på arbetsplatsen, samt intern- och externkommunikation i projektet. Utredningen visar att förbättringar i entreprenörens framtida inköp kan åstadkommas genom: Att säkerställa en gemensam målbild och syfte med arbetet för att reducera antalet missförstånd som sprids i organisationen och därefter vidare i försörjningskedjan. Involvera leverantörer och yrkesarbetare tidigt i planeringen. I planeringen av leveransen lägga vikt på att förstå leveransvillkoren och vilken flexibilitet som finns från leverantörens sida. I samband med leveransplaneringen ha en klar bild hur materialet paketeras och inspektera intransportvägen för att identifiera och förebygga hinder. Planera varje beställning så att inte material ligger i onödan på arbetsplatsen då det är kostsamt att flytta runt det. Informera involverade underentreprenörer (UE) vid förändringar i planeringen då det kan resultera i krockar. / The construction industry is characterised by project based organisations and temporary supply chains. The fragmentation in this industry is tangible, placing significant communication pressure on supply chain members. Traditionally, companies have worked independently without ties to other members of the supply chain, but experience has shown increasing benefits of cooperation beyond company borders. This change of focus is due to the growing influence of customers, making it essential for suppliers to react to fluctuating changes in trends and produce quality products at low prices. Supply chain management methodshave because of this gained influence since they handle the flow of material, information and financial flow from manufacturing to end customer in order to stay competitive. The development of digitalisation is creating a need for qualitative data on which to base new research regarding how emerging technologies can be implemented to enhance the different flows in the supply chain. In order to measure changes made in the supply chain, the current state of mapping of a kitchens material and information flow can work as a reference and point out problems that could be solved with such technologies. This investigation is based on interviews and observations from the factory of the supplier to the assembly site for a kitchen delivery in an NCC project. Collected data has been analysed through the lens of theories found in the literature review and the material handling process. The kitchen delivery was selected because it’s a common delivery to new construction and renovation projects in the construction industry. Also there is a certain complexity regarding the manufacturing- and the material handling process. The study identified waste in the material and information flows. These concerns apply to material handling on the construction site and both internal and external communication within the project. The aforementioned findings led to the following improvement suggestions for future purchases of the contractor: Ensure that everyone involved in the project has the same view on the purpose and goal for the conducted work. This can reduce the number of potential misunderstandings passing on in the project and later the supply chain. Suppliers and workers should have connection to the purchasing processes during the early stages of planning. Confirm understanding of the terms of delivery and the flexibility of the suppliers. Perform inspection of the intended transport methods of materials ahead of delivery to solve problems related to internal transportation in advance. Plan the purchase in detail to make sure it fits the production phase. Inform involved subcontractors in the project of changes in planning to avoid collision or unnecessary wastes.

The purpose of the study was to investigate how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in local procurement create supply chain value. The study investigated supply chain value creation (SCVC) by testing three initiators of SCVC: entrepreneurial competencies; supply chain collaboration; and supply chain trust as well as the moderation effects of trust on SCVC. Feedback from a cross-sectional survey of 294 respondents in the construction, furniture and fitting, food processing and agricultural sectors was utilized to test hypothesized relationships. The study employed factor analysis and structural equation modelling to conduct analysis. The unit of analysis was an SME and level of analysis was the SME owner-manager. The results show that building value-driven supply chains in Uganda’s local procurement context requires SME owner-managers to integrate competencies, share information with customers, communicate collaboratively with suppliers and build an optimal level of trust. Supply chain trust is highly regarded in facilitating the exchange of resources within local communities but the owner-managers’ perspective – which differs in terms of how they view customers and suppliers – alters how managers assess trusted customers and suppliers, and what different tactics they may employ in building trust in customer, as opposed to supplier, relationships. The research findings demonstrate how managers, who trust customers on the basis of transparency and reliability, by contrast trust suppliers on the basis of operational flexibility, fairness and market credibility. The study contributes to existing knowledge by separating out and defining the key competencies most important in the management of local SME supply chains: opportunity competence and commitment competence. These are what the study has named Entrepreneurial Supply Chain Value-creating Competences (ESCVC). In addition, the study illuminates how trust increases the value suppliers create for the focal firm. Finally, by demonstrating that cost and goal congruence are not key value drivers, the research provides compelling evidence for why managers should instead focus on developing competencies, facilitating the flow of information and building trust in order to optimally benefit from local supply chains. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / PhD / Unrestricted

The author investigated the condition under which competition effect and contagion effect impact the suppliers of the firm encountering data breach. An event study was conducted to analyze the stock price of 104 suppliers of Target after the large-scale data breach in 2013. The result showed that suppliers with high dependence on Target experienced negative abnormal return on the day after Target’s announcement, while those with low dependence experienced positive abnormal return. After regressing the abnormal return on some explanatory variables, the result showed that firms with better operational performance and high information technology capability were less negatively affected. This study suggested that suppliers who relatively highly rely on one customer company are susceptible for the negative shock from that customer because of contagion effect. Furthermore, maintaining good performance and investing in information technology can help firms reduce losses from negative events happened in customer companies.

Aim  This study has investigated the supply chain of shoe industry in Bangladesh those who does business internationally. The study concentrates on the supply chain of our selected industries and what are the difficulties they have faced during the time of pandemic. We have also discussed about the difficulties faced in general times but those has been mentioned to gain a better understanding and diversity of the difficulties faced during the time of pandemic.  Method The study has been done by using qualitative approach and Inductive method. Four shoe manufacturing organization were selected and among them twelve staff members has been interrogated in order to generate the primary data. The secondary data has been collected from the published literatures and the considered theories are based on the concept of supply chain process.   Result and Conclusion The study has been formulated on a platform where supply chain is influenced by supply chain process and the difficulties that we have discussed in regards to the process affects the whole supply chain and these difficulties has been classified into three areas for the purpose of our study. Our investigation regarding the supply chain difficulties in time of pandemic, also projects similar scenario and those difficulties has been also classified according to the three areas. As result of fact the pandemic affected the intensity of the difficulties but it does not arise any kind of new area of difficulties. Though we did not find any diversity in terms of the categorised areas but it has increased the severity of the difficulties among the factors. The most effected factors have been indicated by the end of the study and projected with the help of a framework.  Contribution  There have been many studies in regards to the supply chain and its challenges. There were also studies were environmental uncertainties were discussed and few recent studies also contributed towards the present situation of (COVID-19). Adding to those studies we have examined the situation further on challenges of supply chain process in shoe manufacturing industries of Bangladesh as this is a very rare area of investigation. In addition to these researchers, other studies discussed challenges in different forms. We have try to synchronize these scattered challenges into particular and precise areas, according to their category of activities. Previously the challenges were discussed with a general view and we have tried to discuss by relating them to the pandemic situation which can add more diversity to the previous researches done on the same situation. The study also contributes to the literature of supply chain in regards to the pandemic situation that the whole world is going through. It investigates the challenges faced due to the pandemic situation and these can contribute to develop managerial aspects of risk management in such diverse situation in future.  Future research suggestions This study mainly focuses on the effects of (COVID-19) on the supply chain process and how this pandemic situation all around the world has effected the shoe manufacturers of Bangladesh in terms of maintaining their operations in supply chain process. Similar kind of further research can be conducted in relation to other industries or even service industries. From managerial aspect new studies can be formulated in order to develop strategies that could manage this kind of pandemic situations more efficiently.

Purpose – The complexity and resulting opacity of TC supply chains, and the fragmentation of approaches to traceability to address these issues, revealed the necessity of collaboration for traceability in TC supply chains. Although the challenges have been explored in literature and practice, it has been left unstudied how collaboration can overcome these challenges. Further, current literature is limited to focus on buyer-supplier relationships rather than the inclusion of external supply chain (SC) actors despite their important role in the implementation of SC traceability. Acknowledging the need for broadening the perspective from dyad to network level, the purpose of this study is to examine collaborative relationships for implementing traceability in the extended TC supply chain network, and thus identify collaborative challenges and possible improvement opportunities. Design/methodology/approach – This research was based on a multiple case study method of three relationship types considering primary data from semi-structured interviews and documentary secondary data related to the studied organizations. While embracing an abductive approach by extending the AARI framework by Welch and Wilkinson (2002) to the context of traceability in TC supply chains, the data analysis followed the Grounded Theory methodology of open, axial and selective coding. The findings of the dyadic relationships were discussed by their substance layers and cross-case comparison. Findings – Through the extended model, the findings shed light on the role of collaborative relationships in the implementation of SC traceability and their interconnectedness on the network level. Based on developing preconditions for dyadic relationships, deductions for the network level could be made. Further, the essential role of external SC actors for the implementation of traceability in the TC supply chain network indicated the necessity of considering collaboration with the extended network. Consequently, possible improvement opportunities for implementing traceability through better collaborative relationships in the extended TC supply chain network could be detected. Originality/Value – This study adds to the theory of network relationships and literature of traceability in TC supply chains by focusing on collaboration in the extended network. It creates new insights by including the ideological dimension. By considering possible chain dependencies of relationships and the interrelation of schema couplings with resource ties and activity links, it can offer practitioners a better understanding of the network behavior and possible challenges in relationships. The proposed set of preconditions can provide inspiration and a change in perspective for successfully collaborating to implement traceability in TC supply chain networks.