Titel: Competitive advantage through strategic sourcing: A SME perspective. SME: The size of an enterprise can be measured by its employment, sales, or profit (Tam etal, 2007). Small and medium sized enterprises range between 10 and 250 employees. FiveSwedish SMEs was used for the multi case study. Background: The competitive market situation has created a shift in companies’ strategythinking. Strategies focus increasingly on core activities and business development. Oneeffect of this is that companies choose to outsource activities they don´t consider to be corebusiness (Van Weele, 2010; Thrulogachantar and Zailani, 2011). Purpose: The purpose was to investigate strategic sourcing plans that SMEs can apply toincrease their competitive advantage. Methodology: The research was conducted through a qualitative study with a deductiveapproach. A multi-case study was made on five SMEs in Kronobergslän, Sweden, with twosemi-structured interviews at each company. Result and conclusion: The investigation resulted in a current view of SMEs sourcing andsuitable recommendations for SMEs to direct their purchasing activities to strategic sourcing.The process of implementing a strategic plan for SMEs can be seen as relatively difficult butthere are purchasing activities that can be improved by a strategic thinking. To keep in mind isthat supplier’s performance matter, but it is the resources of suppliers that are the maincompetitive advantage and it is in this area where supplier development and sourcingstrategies should focus. Further research: However further research could investigate strategic sourcing in adifferent approach, both from a supplier and customer perspective

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The innovation of technology and product has made uncertain highly of the beginnings of emerging industry. Smart phone industry belongs to emerging industry. The manufacturers in Taiwan of smart phone include HTC, Quanta, Innopac, Asus, and Arimacomm etc. and HTC is the maximum of shipment of smart phone with Microsoft platform. Therefore, it is necessary that we study the purchasing strategies of smart phone industry. The research methodologies applied to this study are literature review, case study and deep interview. It applies purchasing portfolio model to classify components come from different industries, and it is proposed different purchasing strategies. The conclusions of this study reveal as follows: 1. Early Purchasing Involvement (EPI) will help to get external advanced technology resource so that we can improve the competitive advantage of the corporate in emerging industry. 2. Different purchasing strategies and relationship management can be applied to different component industry and suppliers respectively. 3. The performance evaluation, remediation, and selection of suppliers can be adopted into the management cycle in A company, and the standards will depend on industry environment and the resource A company has.

[pt] A função de compras tem exercido um papel importante no desempenho financeiro das empresas, uma vez que o valor de compras e contratação de bens e serviços tem se apresentado como parcela significativa nos demonstrativos de resultados, e por isso vem merecendo, cada vez mais, a atenção dos gestores como atividade estratégica. Nesse contexto a atividade de compras tem ampliado a sua atuação no processo de aquisição ou contratação não apenas com foco no valor dos produtos e serviços, mas também no relacionamento com o mercado fornecedor desses. O modelo de portfólio de Kraljic, apresentado em 1983, traduz bem o tema estratégia de fornecimento, quando classifica todos os itens de compras e contratação em termos de impacto no lucro e risco de fornecimento gerando quatro grupos de itens associados aos seus mercados. Embora com aceitação cada vez maior, o modelo de portfólio de Kraljic tornou-se alvo de críticas, das quais destacamos a subjetividade na medição das dimensões da matriz na etapa de classificação dos itens de compras. Nesta dissertação foi enfatizada a classificação de itens de bens e serviços, primeira etapa do modelo de portfólio de Kraljic, onde procurou-se demonstrar de forma prática, através de estudo de caso em uma empresa da indústria de óleo e gás, a aplicação de um método de medição, chamado um-por-um, que define com rapidez e objetividade a medida alta e baixa para o risco de fornecimento e impacto no lucro, com vistas ao seu posicionamento em um dos quatro grupos de itens. Procurou-se ainda apresentar evidências da possibilidade de emprego do modelo de portfólio de compras em empresa cujas compras e contratações são regidas pelo Decreto 2745/98, Regulamento do Procedimento Licitatório Simplificado da Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - PETROBRAS. / [en] The purchasing function has played an important part in the financial performance of a company, since the value of purchase and contracting of goods and services has emerged as a significant portion on their profit and loss statements, deserving, increasingly, management attention as a strategic activity. In this context the activity of supply has been expanded in the purchase or contracting of goods and services process not only focusing on the value of products and services, but also in the relationships within the supplier market. Kraljic s Portfolio Model, submitted in 1983, is a good way to translate the sourcing strategy theme as it sorts all purchasing and contracting items in terms of profit impact and risk of supply, developing four categories of items associated to their markets. Although Kraljic s portfolio model has become much more accepted, it has been the target of criticism as it can be seen in the literature, among which we highlight the matrix s dimensions measurement subjectivity, during the classification of Item s purchasing stage. In this dissertation it was emphasized the classification of items of goods and services, the first step of the Kraljic s Portfolio Model, which sought to demonstrate the practical application of a measurement method, called one-by-one, through an oil and gas industry s company case study, which sets quickly and objectively the measure high and low for the supply risk and profit impact, with a view to its placement in one of four groups of items. It was also sought to introduce evidences about the possibility of using purchases portfolio model in companies whose purchases and contracts are governed by Decree 2745/98, Simplified Regulation Bidding Process of Petróleo Brasileiro SA - PETROBRAS.

Todo e qualquer empreendimento começa a se materializar na área suprimentos de uma empresa, sendo a principal função de esta área adquirir os materiais e serviços que compõem os empreendimentos. A gestão de suprimentos estabelecida para um determinado empreendimento pode fazer com que este tenha, ou não, um bom desempenho, bem como possibilitar que a execução seja mais eficiente e eficaz. Esta gestão, além de ser a mais adequada para a execução do empreendimento, deve também refletir a estratégia da organização, para que seja garantida a vantagem competitiva escolhida. Dada a sua importância, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo identificar as principais diretrizes envolvidas para a implantação da gestão estratégica de suprimentos em empresas construtoras. Inicialmente, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica a respeito dos temas: gestão da cadeia de suprimentos, gestão de suprimentos e gestão estratégica de suprimentos. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo das características do setor da construção e de suas respectivas gestão da cadeia de suprimentos e gestão de suprimentos. Para que fossem identificadas as diretrizes, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica a cerca dos processos envolvidos na gestão estratégica de suprimentos, em geral. As diretrizes foram então identificadas considerando as características do setor da construção, bem como os processos da gestão estratégica de suprimentos investigados. Ao final desta pesquisa são apresentadas as conclusões e sugestões para pesquisas futuras. Com a identificação destas diretrizes, espera-se contribuir para que a gestão de suprimentos em empresas construtoras seja tratada, cada vez mais, de forma estratégica, agregando valor ao processo construtivo e conseguindo tornar factíveis alguns conceitos da gestão da cadeia de suprimentos. / All and any project starts to turn real in the purchasing department, which has the main function of supplying the projects materials and services. The supply management established for a project can determine its performance as well as make the constructions more efficient and effective. This management must even be the most appropriated to the construction; either reflects the organization strategy to ensure the chosen competitive advantage. Due to its importance, this research objective is to identify the main guidelines involved at the strategic sourcing implementation in construction companies. At first, a bibliographical research was accomplished considering the themes: supply chain management, supply management and strategic sourcing. Afterwards, it was made a study about the characteristics of the construction industry and its supply chain management and supply management. In order to identify the guidelines, it was made a bibliographic research about the strategic sourcing processes. The guidelines were identified considering the construction industry characteristics and the strategic sourcing processes searched. At the end of this research, are presented the conclusions and the suggestions to orientate further researches. By the guidelines identification, it is expected to contribute to contractors supply management to be, more than ever, administered with a strategic view, adding value to the construction process and making feasible some supply chain management constructs.

O presente trabalho de pesquisa tem como proposta analisar as contribuições que os ERP\'s promovem no suporte às atividades gerenciais de uma área de compras em uma empresa de manufatura. Para alcançar este resultado o trabalho foi dividido em duas fases, sendo uma análise conceitual, onde o pesquisador estuda o modelo de referência para os processos de compras adotados em empresas proposto pela APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society), comparando com relação ao modelo de referência do software de gestão empresarial (ERP) selecionado para a pesquisa. Nesta análise, são identificados os pontos de aderência e onde o ERP não cobre as atividades de compras (gerenciais). O resultado da análise conceitual é uma matriz (Matriz - Análise de Aderência - Análise das Atividades do Modelo de Referência - APICS versus Funcionalidades do sistema) e uma análise descritiva sobre a aplicabilidade das funcionalidades do sistema nos sub-processos do modelo de referência. Com a análise conceitual, parte-se então para uma análise prática, aonde através da aplicação de um estudo de caso é feita uma análise de como as empresas de manufatura estão utilizando os ERP\'s como suporte às atividades gerenciais relacionadas aos processos de compras. Na análise prática é feita uma análise descritiva sobre a aplicabilidade das funcionalidades do sistema nos sub-processos de compras da empresa. O resultado alcançado deste presente trabalho é uma análise detalhada das contribuições que os ERP\'s podem oferecer no suporte às atividades gerenciais nos processos de compras. / This research has a proposal to analyze the contributions that the ERP\'s promote in the support to the management activities of an purchasing organization in a manufacture company. To reach this result the work was divided in two phases, having been a conceptual analysis, where the researcher studies the reference model for the procurement process adopted in companies considered by the APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society), comparing with relation with the reference model of the software of enterprise management (ERP) chosen for the research. In this analysis, the tack points are identified and where the ERP has not covered the activities of procurement (Management activities). The result of the conceptual analysis is a matrix (Matrix - Analysis of Tack - Analysis of the Activities of the Reference Model - APICS versus Functionalities of the System) and a descriptive analysis on the applicability of the functionalities of the system in the sub-processes of the reference model. With the conceptual analysis, it has been broken then for a practical analysis, where through the application of a case study is made an analysis of as the manufacture companies are using the ERP\'s as it has supported to the related management activities to the procurement processes. In the practical analysis a descriptive analysis on the applicability of the functionalities of the system in the sub-processes of procurement of the company is made. Thereached result of this research is a detailed analysis of the contributions that the ERPs can offer in the support to the management activities in the processes of procurement.

Os gastos com saúde vêm crescendo em ritmo alarmante e os hospitais universitários, as unidades mais complexas dos sistemas de saúde, enfrentam grandes desafios para reduzir custos e melhorar a eficiência operacional. Considerando-se que a gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores tem grande potencial para apoiar melhorias de desempenho no setor hospitalar e, conforme indicações da literatura acadêmica, tem limitada abordagem no setor hospitalar, decidiu-se aprofundar o estudo de gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores em organizações hospitalares. Tendo-se como referência uma revisão sistemática de literatura, desenvolveu-se um framework específico para gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores em hospitais. O framework estabelece aspectos relacionados com apoio da alta administração, estrutura organizacional, infraestrutura de tecnologia de informação e capacitações dos recursos humanos como requisitos que devem ser atendidos para possibilitar a implementação de processos de gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores em hospitais. Com o auxílio do framework, foram realizados estudo de casos em quatro hospitais universitários de grande porte, dois públicos e dois privados. Nos relatórios dos casos são analisados o atendimento aos requisitos mencionados, os processos utilizados nos hospitais universitários e as dificuldades enfrentadas para a gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores. Constatou-se que os hospitais universitários privados estão mais evoluídos que os públicos na implantação de gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores. Restrições impostas pela legislação de compras públicas, políticas públicas de gestão de recursos humanos e carência de recursos financeiros para investimentos na infraestrutura de tecnologia de informação impedem que os hospitais universitários públicos consigam melhores resultados com a gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores. Este estudo contribui para preencher uma lacuna referente à abordagem de gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores em hospitais universitários e disponibiliza informações que podem auxiliar os gestores hospitalares a aprimorar a gestão de relacionamento com fornecedores. / Health spending has been growing at an alarming rate, and university hospitals, the most complex units of health care systems, face major challenges in reducing costs and improving operational efficiency. Considering that supplier relationship management has great potential to support performance improvements in the hospital sector and, as indicated in the academic literature, has received limited approach in the healthcare sector, it was decided to deepen the study of supplier relationship management in hospitals. Based on a systematic literature review, a specific framework for supplier relationship management in hospitals was developed. The framework establishes aspects related to senior management support, organizational structure, information technology infrastructure and human resource skills as requisites that must be met to enable the implementation of supplier relationship management processes in hospitals. With the help of the framework, a case study was carried out in four large university hospitals, two public and two private hospitals. In the case study reports it was analyzed the attendance to the mentioned requisites, the processes used in university hospitals and the difficulties faced for the supplier relationship management. It was verified that private university hospitals are more developed than the public ones in the implementation of supplier relationship management practices. Constraints imposed by public procurement legislation, public policies for human resources management and lack of financial resources for investments in information technology infrastructure prevent public university hospitals from achieving better results with supplier relationship management. This study contributes to fill a gap regarding supplier relationship management approach in university hospitals and provides information that can help hospital managers to improve supplier relationship management.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States Code, Section 105, it may not be copyrighted. / MBA Professional Report / In an effort to align sources with requirements, the Department of Defense has implemented initiatives that mirror industry's strategic sourcing practices. These initiatives include Consolidated Purchasing, Commodity Councils and Regionalization. This project will examine a successful Commodity Council (CC), a failed CC, and one in the early stages of development. We will seek characteristics common to both successful and unsuccessful councils, as well as characteristics that differentiate the outcomes. We will include a brief history of strategic sourcing as a long-term supply-chain management solution in the private sector, the impetus behind AF implementation of strategic sourcing through CCs; associated transactions costs, and finally, the resource management practices necessary to move beyond theory to practical application. The results are illustrated in a case study which will provide a template for successful implementation.

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.

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