Introduction:     Companies are facing an environment with fierce competition therefore to respond to the customers' needs and to deliver on time at a competitive cost is becoming more and more important. Integration between the actors in the SC is increasing in importance and is seen as a core competitive strategy to respond to the customers' demands. SCI can be achieved through efficient linkages among various supply chain activities however internal excellence is not enough and SCM seeks to integrate internal functions with external operations of suppliers, customer and other SC members. In SCI the TPL firms are said to play an important role because of their expertise and knowledge. Problem: Previous researchers have identified gaps in the SCI literature which does not consider the role of the TPL firm. Similar gaps have been found in the TPL literature which does not put emphasis on SCI. Nevertheless the importance of TPL firms in SCI has been pointed out as significant. Therefore this thesis will study the role of the TPL firm in SCI to improve the knowledge and create a better understanding. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study and uncover the role of the TPL firm Schenker Logistics AB Nässjö in supporting SCI with its customer Relacom and its supplier Nexans to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. By analyzing the drivers, barriers and outcomes of the SCI for each firm, the paper pursues the notion that SCI is a dynamic process and TPL firm plays an important role. Method: This thesis is based on a qualitative approach where interviews with key persons are the main approach to gathering information. The qualitative approach has its strengths is being able to obtain rich nuances in the information which fits our purpose to go deeper in a phenomenon. Conclusions: By analyzing the drivers, barriers and outcomes of SCI we have reached the conclusion that the role of the TPL firm is to achieve benefits through the three C's (the company, its customers and its competitors). The TPL firm also smooths out the friction between other members of the SC and help to create a better, faster, cheaper, smarter and greener SCI. Since the factors influencing SCI are constantly changing, all actors continuously have to keep updated to react to the pressures from the market.

In today’s Chinese automotive industry, the traditional self-management logistics mode cannot fulfill higher requirement of logistics performance, more and more automotive manufacturers seek to outsource their logistics activities to third-party logistics service providers to optimize supply chain management. Milk run system is a typical example of 3PL mode in automotive industry, which can help firms minimize costs and improve logistics function simultaneously. Given the increasing importance of 3PL, many literatures are concerned about the usage of 3PL; however, few of them discussed 3PL form the perspective of China. Besides, in terms of Milk run system, seldom articles focus on this innovative logistics mode, especially in Chinese automotive industry. Therefore, in this thesis work, authors discuss 3PL from the perspective of Chinese automotive industry, especially focus on the typical 3PL mode—Milk run system, set SGM as case company, aiming at find out the factors that facilitate Chinese automotive manufacturers convert self-management mode to 3PL mode, and then discuss the benefits of professional 3PL services; in addition, authors emphasize on Milk run system and its unique benefits.  The research objectives are solved by combining literature review and empirical findings. Relevant literatures are downloaded from Internet and Library’s database. Empirical findings are gathered by interviews and questionnaires.  Through comparing literature review with findings, both external and internal factors that facilitate automotive manufacturers change logistics mode are summarized. Besides, some professional 3PL services are identified by literature review and validated by questionnaires. According to different categories of 3PL services, their benefits are discussed from two aspects: supply chain integration and core competence improvement. In addition, the benefits of Milk run system are represented by literature review and then through comparing with empirical findings, some unique benefits are summarized. In this thesis work, the main theoretical contribution is the knowledge of Milk run system, which including its features, implementation processes, and its benefits.

Abstract In this globalized era, most industries will not be able to survive by simply optimizing internal structures and infrastructures based upon business strategy. The most successful manufacturers seem to be those that have carefully linked their internal processes to external suppliers and customers in unique supply chains. Quality management represents company-wide activities to improve the quality level of products and works through customer orientation, continuous quality improvement, employees¡¦ involvement, etc. to establish and sustain a competitive advantage. From a perspective of competitive strategy, quality is often seen as a source of differentiation. Quality improvement is an important issue influencing long-term viability of any business enterprise, especially manufacturing companies producing physical goods. A number of researchers suggest that better performance can be achieved by consolidating customer and supplier bases, removing unnecessary steps in the chain, speeding up information and material flows, and creating long-term partnerships with major customers and suppliers to leverage the capabilities of several companies in the chain. Recent years have seen growth in the importance of integration suppliers, manufacturers and customers. Effective integration of suppliers into supply chains serves as a key factor for some companies to gain competitive advantage. Supply chain integration refers to a formation of network encompassing elements of supply chain, which are the suppliers, customers and the company. This paper presents results of an empirical study on effect of quality management practices upon supply chain integration in Aerospace Industry manufacturing companies. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were conducted to test hypothesizes. This paper used six scales to measure different aspects of quality management including top management leadership for quality , small group problem solving , processes management, supplier involvement, information and feedback and customer forcus upon supply chain integration. Regression results indicated two external factors including supplier involvement, customer forcus have significant impact on supply chain integration, also will increase company competitive performance if all resourses have been adopted properly. For those four internal factors,such as management leadership for quality , small group problem solving , processes management, information and feedback doesn¡¦t have significant impact on supply chain integration.

Background Supply chain integration is a prevailing issue of current research and influences the competitive advantage of companies significantly. However, construction industries are argued to be the least integrated supply chains of all due to their complexity. e-Procurement is one way to improve integration in a supply chain and has currently been implemented by some actors in the Swedish construction industry. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate outcomes achieved and challenges encountered when implementing e-Procurement in the Swedish construction industry in order to generate contributions to literature considering the detected research gaps. Method This study has been carried out according to an abductive approach given its flexibility to simultaneously review existing theory when analyzing the empirical findings. However, outcomes achieved and challenges encountered when implementing e-Procurement in the construction industry, in particular in Sweden, lacks considerably in scientific literature. Thus, an exploratory and qualitative study has been conducted in order to assess the phenomenon in a new light and generate knowledge. The empirical findings have been collected in a single holistic case study of a supply chain in the Swedish construction industry which recently has implemented e-Procurement. The empirical data emanates from semi-structured face-to-face interviews which have been conducted with nine respondents from five different organizations operating in the Swedish construction industry. The data has been analyzed using summarizing, categorizing and pattern matching. Conclusions The Swedish construction industry, at least the investigated supply chain, was and still is rather underdeveloped when it comes to electronic purchasing processes. However, the results of this study show that quite many outcomes and challenges with regard to e-Procurement are similar to other industries. Overall, 15 outcomes and five challenges have been detected for this supply chain. The implementation of e-Procurement in the Swedish construction industry faces positive conditions to be successful and has the potential to change routine working methods.

Cette thèse a pour objectif de comprendre la nature et les bases de développement de l'intégration des Supply Chains dans le contexte de l'industrie des équipementiers automobiles marocains. Elle vise ainsi à démontrer que la nature de l'intégration de la Supply Chain nouée, dépend étroitement de la nature de la confiance développée envers le partenaire, qui est elle aussi fortement déterminée par les caractéristiques de la culture nationale. Sur le plan méthodologique, la thèse se fonde sur un processus séquentiel qui allie une phase exploratoire qualitative menée auprès de sociologues, anthropologues et historiens pour la compréhension des variables sur la culture nationale marocaine, ainsi qu'une étape menée auprès des équipementiers automobiles marocains. Dans un deuxième temps, un processus confirmatoire de confrontation de notre modèle conceptuel s'est établit sur la base d'une enquête quantitative analysée avec la méthode des équations structurelles sous l'approche PLS. Les résultats de la recherche suggèrent que les caractéristiques de la culture nationale marocaine favorisent le développement d'une confiance de nature affective qui permet de favoriser le développement d'une intégration relationnelle de la Supply Chain / The objective of this thesis is to understand the nature and the basis of supply chain integration development in the context of Moroccan automotive suppliers. Thereof, it will demonstrate how the nature of supply chain integration depends very closely on the nature of trust developed towards the partner. This trust is closely determined by the national culture's characteristics. Methodology wise, the thesis is based on a sequential process that starts with an exploratory qualitative phase conducted with sociologists, anthropologists and historians to understand the national culture's variables, and with Moroccan automotive suppliers. In a second confirmatory phase, the theoretical model was confronted to an empirical quantitative investigation. The results were analyzed using structural equations under the PLS approach. The research results suggest that the national culture's characteristics in Morocco favor the development of an affective type of trust that in turn favors the supply chain integration

The increasing emphasis on integration among members of a supply chain has led to new mechanisms to help firms coordinate the flow of products, services, and information through the supply chain. Many studies support the importance and influence of supply chain integration on firm performance but only a few focus on factors driving the integration practices. Moreover, the role of organizational contextual factors that could influence supply chain integration has been largely overlooked. This research examines firms' internal and external drivers of supply chain integration, as well as evaluates the impact of the integration on firm performance. This study further investigates the moderating role of organizational culture, based on the dimensions of control-flexibility orientation and internal-external focus, in strengthening or weakening the relationships between supply chain integration and its antecedents. For the purpose of this study, manufacturing firms were identified as the focal firms in supply chains, and thus data was collected through a survey of 223 Indonesian-based manufacturing firms. Two informants from each firm became the respondents. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, and this study confirmed the positive relationships between supply chain integration and firm performance. The results also indicated that internal driver, or specifically firms' customer orientation, triggered the initiation of supply chain integration. Other factors, such as demand uncertainty, supply uncertainty, technology uncertainty, as well as firms' anticipation of benefits, were not significantly related to the degree of supply chain integration. Furthermore, focal firms with external focus were pursuing a higher degree of supply chain integration than those with internal focus. By investigating the linkages between internal and external drivers, supply chain integration, firm performance, and organizational culture, this study attempts to contribute to the Operations Management discipline, especially to the area of supply chain management. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

abstract: Despite significant growth in research about supply chain integration, many questions remain unanswered regarding the path to integration and the benefits that can be accrued. This dissertation examines three aspects of supply chain integration in the health sector, leveraging the healthcare context to extend the theoretical boundaries, as well as applying supply chain knowledge to an industry known to be immature in terms of its supply chain practices. In the first chapter, a supply chain operating model that breaks away from the traditional healthcare supply chain structures is examined. Consolidated Service Centers (CSCs) embody a shared services strategy, consolidating supply chain functions across multiple hospitals (i.e. horizontal integration) and disintermediating several key roles in healthcare supply chains such as the group purchasing organizations and national distributors. Through case studies, key characteristics of CSCs that enable them to reduce the level of supply chain complexity are examined. The second chapter investigates buyer-supplier relationships in healthcare (i.e. supplier integration), where a high level of distrust exists between hospitals and their suppliers. This context is leveraged to study both enablers and barriers to buyer-supplier trust. The results suggest that contracting counteracts the negative effects of dependence on trust. Furthermore, the study reveals that hospital buyers may, in some situations, perceive dedicated resource investments made by suppliers as trust barriers, associating such investments with supplier upselling and entrenchment tactics. This runs contrary to how dedicated investments are perceived in most other industries. In the third chapter, the triadic relationship between the hospital, supplier, and physician is taken into consideration. Given their professional autonomy and power, physicians commonly undermine hospital efforts in supply base rationalization and standardization. This study examines whether physician-hospital integration (i.e. customer integration) can drive physicians towards supply selection practices that align with the hospital’s sourcing strategies and ultimately result in better supply chain performance. This study utilizes theory on agency triads and professionalism and tests hypotheses through a random effects regression model applied to data about hospital financial performance and physician-hospital arrangements. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2016

A introdução efetiva da sustentabilidade em empresas exige ações que extrapolam os limites organizacionais, abarcando o ambiente interorganizacional. Dessa maneira, as empresas deixam de ser consideradas isoladamente e passam a ser analisadas de acordo com suas cadeias de suprimentos, compostas por organizações que contribuem para o alcance dos mesmos objetivos de desempenho. Nesse sentido, uma cadeia de suprimentos é considerada mais sustentável quando insere as dimensões econômica, ambiental e social em suas operações, nas estratégias e na tomada de decisão, possuindo bons níveis de desempenho em tais dimensões. A adoção de práticas de sustentabilidade em cadeias de suprimentos pode ser analisada em um contínuo, formado por dois extremos: a resposta reativa e proativa. Nesse contexto, a proatividade de práticas sustentáveis pode ser definida como a adoção de ações, realizadas voluntariamente por empresas, com a finalidade de melhorar o desempenho ambiental e o desempenho social, além das exigências legais. A empresa proativa afirma sua preocupação e seu compromisso com a sociedade e o ambiente natural, em que está inserida. Diante dessas considerações, tem-se a premissa dessa pesquisa: a postura proativa de empresas em relação a práticas sustentáveis estimula melhor articulação com os elos de sua cadeia de suprimentos, o que colabora para a introdução da sustentabilidade nessa cadeia. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar a contribuição da articulação de uma empresa proativa com seus elos para a introdução da sustentabilidade na sua cadeia de suprimentos. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, distribuída em duas etapas (exploratória e descritiva), envolvendo uma empresa focal proativa e parceiros de sua cadeia de suprimentos. Ressalta-se que, em virtude da complexidade e da extensão de cadeias de suprimentos, optou-se por analisar a cadeia à montante, isto é, foram entrevistados colaboradores da empresa focal (Mercur S.A.) e de empresas fornecedoras (LKC Transportes; PAMF Indústria e Comércio de Confecções; Caeté Embalagens; e, Artecola Química). Primeiramente, foi analisada a proatividade de práticas sustentáveis da Mercur. Os resultados indicam que a Mercur pode ser considerada uma empresa proativa, em função da implantação total de 37 ações em prol da sustentabilidade ao core business da organização e da implantação parcial de seis práticas. Em segundo lugar, investigou-se a articulação e o relacionamento da empresa proativa com os elos de sua cadeia de suprimentos. Verificou-se que os entrevistados consideram que os elos estão em processo de integração. Diante disso, pode-se observar que existem diferentes níveis de articulação na cadeia de suprimentos, envolvendo a Mercur e seus fornecedores. Em seguida, averiguou-se a existência de práticas sustentáveis ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos estudada, as quais foram descritas a partir de cinco categorias de análise (orientação estratégica, continuidade da cadeia de suprimentos, colaboração, gestão de risco, proatividade). Incentivos foram identificados para que práticas pró-sustentabilidade passem a ser concebidas e implantadas por todos os membros da cadeia, colaborando para um desenvolvimento mais sustentável. Nessa perspectiva, diante dos resultados encontrados, assume-se que a premissa de pesquisa foi confirmada, uma vez que a postura proativa de práticas sustentáveis da Mercur estimula maior articulação com os parceiros de sua cadeia de suprimentos, contribuindo para a inserção da sustentabilidade nessa cadeia. Entretanto, a articulação da Mercur com os parceiros também pode incentivar que posturas proativas em benefício da sustentabilidade sejam incorporadas pelas empresas da cadeia de suprimentos. / The effective introduction of sustainability in business requires actions that go beyond organizational boundaries, encompassing the inter-organizational environment. Thus, companies are no longer considered individually; they are analyzed according to their supply chains, composed by organizations that contribute to the achievement of the same performance goals. A supply chain is considered more sustainable when it enters the economic, environmental and social dimensions in their operations, strategies and decision making, possessing good levels of performance on these dimensions. The incorporation of sustainability practices in supply chain can be analyzed in a continuous, formed by two extremes: reactive and proactive response. The sustainable proactivity can be defined as the adoption of actions, performed voluntarily by companies, in order to improve the environmental and social performance beyond legal requirements. A proactive company states its concern and commitment to society and the natural environment in which it operates. Given these considerations, this research premise is: the proactive approach of companies towards sustainable practices encourages better integration with the partners in their supply chain, which contributes to the incorporation of sustainability in the supply chain. In this context, this research aims to analyze the contribution of proactive company integration with its partners to the introduction of sustainability in their supply chain. Therefore, a qualitative research was performed, composed by two phases (exploratory and descriptive), involving a proactive focal company and its supply chain partners. It is emphasized that, because of the complexity and the extent of supply chains, we chose to analyze the upstream chain, i.e., focal company (Mercur S.A.) and supplier firms (LKC Transportes; PAMF Indústria e Comércio de Confecções; Caeté Embalagens; and Artecola Química). The employees of these companies were interviewed. First, it was analyzed the proactivity of sustainable practices of Mercur. The results indicate that Mercur can be considered a proactive company, due to the full adoption of 37 actions for sustainability in the core business of the organization and the partial implementation of six practices. Secondly, it was investigated the integration and the relationship of a proactive company with its supply chain partners. It was found that the interviewees consider that the supply chain is in process of a complete integration. Thus, it can be observed that there are different levels of integration in the supply chain, involving the Mercur and their suppliers. Thirdly, it was examined the existence of sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. These practices were described considering five categories of analysis (strategic orientation, supply chain continuity, collaboration, risk management, and proactivity). Incentives were identified for the design and the implementation of sustainable practices by all supply chain members, contributing to a more sustainable development. From this perspective, given the results, it is assumed that the research premise was confirmed, since the proactive sustainable practices Mercur encourages greater integration with partners in the supply chain, contributing to the sustainable supply chain. However, the integration of Mercur with partners can also encourage that proactive practices in favor of sustainability be incorporated in the supply chain.

Abstract Agility – namely, the ability of a supply chain to rapidly respond to changes in market and customer demands – is regarded as the bearer of competitive advantage in today's business world. The need for agility has traditionally been associated with supply chains in high technology industry products. However, traditional industries also face similar challenges in terms of speed, flexibility, increased product diversity and customization. This study contributes to the discussion on agility in supply chain management (SCM) and provides a novel focus on the development of an agile supply chain in a traditional industry. The object of this study is the development of an agile supply chain in a steel product network in the Raahe area in Northern Finland. The case network is undergoing a shift towards project-oriented business, where quick responses are the priority and agility is recognised as the facilitating factor. Using a constructive approach, an agile supply chain for a steel product network, SteelNet system, is developed. SteelNet system functions through the Internet and agent software technology. In identifying the new challenges raised by advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) in the development of an agile supply chain, the study presents some valuable ICT options for SCM. Following a review of the current understanding of agility in SCM literature, the study identifies the key elements of agile supply chains and proposes a four-dimensional agile supply chain framework by which to assess levels of agility. Using the framework, the study describes how the key elements appear in the case network. The study assesses the change process, and the necessary improvement steps, towards agility. It is concluded that agile supply chains have a major role also in traditional industry, and comprehensive implementation of ICT throughout the chain is of utmost importance in the development of an agile supply chain. Further insights to the discussion on agility are provided, and these and the conclusions extend a drawbridge to other companies and business networks in traditional industry to consider the clear advantages to developing their own agile supply chains.

Abstract Information integration – sharing of pertinent information between supply chain members – is vital to cope with the uncertainty and complexity embedded in service supply chains. The aim of this study is to understand the meaning, constituents, extent, and development means of information integration in service supply chain context. The research approach is abductive, emphasising the constant interplay between theory development and empirical observations. Analysis on a single case supply chain consisting of two types of maintenance service providers and a large steel manufacturer as the focal company is provided. A comprehensive conceptual framework for analysing and developing information integration in service supply chain is presented and applied in the case supply chain. Extent of integration is described through three levels of integration. Six information integration elements are used to define the levels: processes and activities, information technology use, information attributes, information sharing practices, collaborative foundation, and time-related issues. Service/market characteristics and supply chain relationship characteristics are deployed in explaining the differences in levels of integration. Depending on the level of integration, the performance effects sought and achieved through developing information integration range from operational to strategic level. Adopting a more structured approach to information integration in the case supply chain is suggested to address development areas in information sharing and improve performance. This can be implemented through a shared centralised maintenance information system, common procedures for information sharing, and commitment of supply chain actors. The framework in this study offers guidelines for choosing the appropriate level of integration in a service supply chain dyad. It shows that the special characteristics of service context can be deployed in designing and managing service supply chains. Service providers should be integrated to the supply chain just like other supply chain members, as it contributes to the supply chain performance. Differentiating the level of integration in service supply chain dyads within a supply chain based on the contextual setting is recommended. This study paves the way for better understanding and control of service supply chain links and contributes to the scarce empirical research on service supply chains.