An important step in making an impact on the Indian market, Saab India Technology Center, SITC, was inaugurated on October 21, 2011. SITC is a collaboration with the Indian company Tech Mahindra, and supplies all of Saab’s Business Areas with skilled engineers. The growing interest for SITC has spread to TDH, the department for Human Machine Interface and Avionics. Possible benefits, but also challenges, of utilizing SITC have been discussed. This thesis attempts to address challenges and maximize benefits for TDH by exploring how a Swedish R&D organization in the defense industry, that has a tradition of performing most work in-house, can initiate outsourcing to a supplier in India. In order to do this, a literature study was performed. Since gaps in the literature regarding outsourcing in the defense industry were identified, a combination of a descriptive and exploratory research approach was chosen. Following the literature study, interviews were conducted to collect experience from working with external partners at TDH, experience from working with SITC, experience from other companies that have outsourced R&D to India and experience of working with Saab from SITC. Empirical data was also gathered via informal meetings and observations during the researchers’ 5 month stay at TDH in Sweden and SITC in India. The outcome of this study shows that drivers and risks for outsourcing R&D, as well as the characteristics of the outsourcer and the supplier, will influence how the strategy for initiating outsourcing should be built. TDH’s main drivers in deciding to use SITC are mainly cost reduction goals, the possibility to access the Indian defense market and the opportunity to gain knowledge from collaborating with international suppliers. The type of risk that is most urgent for TDH is operational risk. Risks in this category, like overestimating cost reduction and risks associated with not understanding cultural differences are all highly relevant for any organization with limited experience in outsourcing. Strategy wise, the main finding is that an R&D organization in the defense industry will benefit from working in a more collaborative manner than traditional outsourcing entails. In an R&D organization, tasks are often complex and highly integrated with each other which, combined with a limited level of outsourcing experience, requires a tighter collaboration. With a high level of involvement from the outsourcer, problems can be detected early and insufficient requirements can be handled. Close collaboration also enhances knowledge sharing, which is important to ensure that the goal of gaining knowledge from international collaboration is achieved. Furthermore, organizational acceptance can be improved by a collaboration that enables close contact between outsourcer and supplier. Improving acceptance in the organization for collaborating with the supplier should be prioritized in order to strengthen the positive effects of outsourcing.

Denna rapports syfte är att beskriva och analysera hur företag arbetar för att ta sitt miljömässiga ansvar när det kommer till val och bedömning av nya leverantörer samt uppföljning och utvärdering av befintliga leverantörer. Tanken är att rapporten ska bidra med en beskrivning av vilka kriterier som är vanligt förekommande vid leverantörsval och leverantörsutvärdering, samt vilka bedömnings- och utvärderingskriterier som kan inkluderas för att uppnå grönare leverantörsval.   För att uppfylla rapportens syfte har det genomförts en litteraturstudie samt en intervjustudie. Anledningen till att detta har genomförts grundar sig främst i att inköp och anskaffning har fått en allt viktigare roll när det kommer till företags miljöansvar. De leverantörer som företag väljer ut kan i många fall bidra starkt till försörjningskedjornas miljöpåverkan. Detta resulterar i att det för organisationer och företag blir allt viktigare att söka en balans mellan ekonomiska och miljömässiga aspekter då leverantörer ska väljas ut samt utvärderas. De vanligast förekommande kriterierna vid leverantörsval och leverantörsutvärdering utgörs av kvalitet, leveransförmåga samt pris/kostnad. Utöver dessa vanligt förekommande kriterier kan företag med fördel inkludera en mängd olika miljömässiga kriterier i syfte att uppnå grönare leverantörsval. Exempel på sådana, så kallade gröna kriterier, kan vara miljöcertifiering, utsläpp av koldioxidekvivalenter samt återvinningsgrad.   Med hjälp av den genomförda litteraturstudien samt empiriinsamlingen har likheter, skillnader och nyanser kunnat upptäckas mellan hur gröna leverantörsval teoretiskt beskrivs, samt hur de studerade företagen arbetar för att inkludera ett miljömässigt hänsynstagande vid just val och utvärdering av leverantörer. En övergripande slutsats som dragits utifrån detta arbete är att det finns en stor förbättringspotential i hur samtliga företag arbetar för att inkludera miljömässiga kriterier vid såväl leverantörsval som leverantörsutvärdering. / The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze companies’ implementation of environmental responsibility regarding supplier selection as well as supplier evaluation. The objective of this paper is to provide a description of which criteria are most commonly used in supplier selection and evaluation, as well as which evaluation criteria companies could include to achieve green supplier selection. To fulfill the purpose of this paper we have done a literature study as well as an interview study. The motive of these studies is based on purchasing’s and procurement’s increasing responsibility regarding environmental impact. The supplier selection process has in many cases a huge impact on a supply chain’s environmental performance. This results in a necessity for companies and organizations to achieve a balance between economic and environmental aspects when it comes to supplier selection and evaluation. The most commonly used criteria in supplier selection and evaluation consists of quality, delivery performance and price/cost. In addition, there is also a lot of different environmental criteria that companies could take into consideration to achieve green supplier selection. For example, these green criteria may consist of environmental certification, carbon dioxide emissions and recycling. By analyzing the literature study as well as the empirical study similarities and differences have been discovered. The discovered similarities and differences is mainly based on how companies include environmental aspects in supplier selection and evaluation, compared to how green supplier selection theoretically is described. A general conclusion based on the analysis in this paper indicates that a great improvement is necessary regarding the implementation of environmental criteria in supplier selection and evaluation.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Buyer-supplier relationships have been increasingly considered a critical part of contemporary supply chain management. In response to dynamic and unpredictable market changes, buyers and suppliers enter into cooperative relationships to pursue individual goals and joint goals for better economic and non-economic performance of the supply chain. On the other hand, cooperation between channel members is surrounded by uncertainty, which can create a detrimental impact on the performance of a supply chain. Previous research has focused on various aspects of uncertainty that could affect supply chain member behaviour. The present research contends that relationship behavioural factors play an important role in increasing or mitigating channel members’ perceived uncertainty in their supply or purchase decision-making. Specifically, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of retailer-supplier cooperation and retailer/supplier’s decision-making uncertainty (DMU) on retail supply chain performance from the perspectives of both the retailer and the supplier. A holistic model was developed as the theoretical framework for this conceptualisation. A sample of 202 retailers and 64 suppliers in the sporting goods retail business in Taiwan was used to separately test a number of hypothesised relationships by using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings indicate that both cooperation and DMU are the key determinants of retail supply chain performance, including financial performance and non-financial performance (i.e., supply flexibility and customer service). Financial performance is positively affected by retailer-supplier cooperation and negatively affected by DMU in both the retailer model and the supplier model. The five dimensions of retailer-supplier cooperation (i.e. trust, guanxi, dependence, coercive power and non-coercive power) have significant effects on cooperation. However, apart from guanxi with the retailer/supplier, neither other relationship dimensions nor retailer-supplier cooperation have any influence on retailer’s DMU or supplier’s DMU. The results also indicate that differences and similarities exist across retailers and suppliers with respect to the effects of several relationship dimensions on cooperation and uncertainty. 2 The holistic empirical model developed for this research contributes further to understanding the links, which have been lacking in the extant channel relationship literature and supply chain management literature, between buyer-supplier relationships, DMU, and supply chain performance. The findings that a retailer/supplier’s DMU can erode the performance of a supply chain in various aspects highlight the need for improvement in some areas of supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, through cooperation-enhancing actions between the retailer and the supplier. From a managerial perspective, the performance improvement in the supply chain, in turn, will motivate more reciprocal commitment and efforts from the retailer and the supplier to maintain their working relationship. As such, mutual trust and enriched guanxi, dependence and non-coercive power help both the retailer and the supplier to have less uncertainty in their purchase/supply decision-making process. It creates a win-win position for both parties in the supply chain.

Degree Project Advanced Level - Business Administration, Linnaeus Business School at Linnaeus University, Business Process and Supply Chain Management, 4FE02E, Spring 2010.   Authors: Muhammad Rizwan ul Haque, Ahmed Nawaz Shaikh, Kamonmarn Jaenglom, Zaheer Tariq Tutor: Petra Andersson   Title: Supplier Selection Process Improvement through Six-Sigma DMAIC (A case of Lafarge Pakistan Cement Limited)   Background: Cement industry is considered to be an intensive supplier base industry. Cement manufacturing involves several types of suppliers ranging from general utilities to large plant equipments. Also, supply chain performance is significant topic in many cement organisations. The supply chain department at Lafarge Pakistan Cement Limited (LPCL) wants to inspect and improve their supplier selection process. The intended objective of this inspection is two folded. First, LPCL wants to develop a competitive supplier base out of bulk suppliers available in the market that would result in competitive advantage over its competitors. Second, they want to improve their supplier selection process so that there would be low variance and exclusion of unnecessary activities that would ultimately help in achieving the cost, quality and service enhancement objectives.   Research question: How can the existing supplier selection process at Lafarge Pakistan Cement Limited (LPCL) be improved by applying Six-Sigma DMAIC?   Methodology: This thesis is a descriptive case study and was conducted with a deductive approach. Data was collected through interviews, discussions and questionnaire. The scientific credibility of this thesis was secured by using many sources, avoidance of assumptions, studying a common process and following standardized steps of supplier selection. Conclusion: The existing process of supplier selection at LPCL was defined and mapped to understand the process characteristics and capabilities. The existing process was then analysed to identify problem areas, variations and unnecessary activities. Corrective actions were recommended to deal with problem areas and an improved supplier selection process for LPCL was suggested with process coordination and control measures. Suggestions for future research: Based on the findings of this thesis, we suggest that the further research for LPCL could be done in the area of sourcing and suppliers relationship management. Sourcing; a study could examine the sourcing policy at LPCL on purchasing practises of products. It would also be interesting to focus more on this area which leads to excellent cost reduction. Using scenario method could compare and analyse regional, national and worldwide sourcing. Supplier Relationship Management; a study could investigate supplier relationship management that leads to creating a competitive advantage for LPCL through the development of supplier performance monitoring and supplier development programme. More details could continuously move towards cost reduction, increased reliability and risk mitigation, transparency of supplier costs and quality, and enhanced efficiency of sourcing process.

Abstract Modernized steel plant belongs to high technique and capital-intensive industry. However, the independent ability of domestic industry in supplying steel plant equipment is so limited. Hence, almost all the equipment of steel plant are provided by foreign supplier. How to assure the big investment of project could be successful eventually, the selection of qualified equipment supplier becomes critical. The evaluation of equipment supplier is so difficult due to too many factors to be considered. Today, the evaluation by personal subjective thinking can¡¦t be applied to the assessment of both technique and non-quantifiable factors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a wide, comprehensive and practical approach for the evaluation of equipment supplier. This research adopt AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) to construct multiattribute decision-making mode. Then, by using the decision-making process to evaluate the equipment supplier. So that such a decision-making behavior is more objective and integrity, and the sequence of priority of equipment supplier can be referred by decision making level. This decision making model is to be applied to the actual case-China Steel Corporation NGO (Non-Grain Oriented) electric steel project which is currently proceeded on. This research will evaluate and distinguish the priority of potential equipment supplier. The top three will be selected for final run of the bidding. Trust the above-mentioned method for selection of equipment supplier is quite in order. It not only helps to reduce the risk but it also increases both efficiencies and quality of decision making. Through study, we acknowledged that equipment technology management is the most important item. Per priority and weight in whole evaluation factors, the top five are selected. Finally, the top three equipment suppliers in NGO project are selected as well.

Supplier integration in category management means that a supplier takes part in the activities that are traditionally performed by retailers. These activities are the selection of which products to sell, decisions on how to price and market the products, and making sure that the products are delivered to the stores in a timely manner. Depending on the situation, an integration of suppliers in these activities can be more or less suitable. As more research is needed to understand when supplier integration in category management is suitable, the purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze how situational factors affect the relationship consequences of supplier integration in category management. Specifically, the relationship consequences are expressed in terms of relationship performance and interdependence between the firms. The study builds on empirical data about British and Swedish builders’ merchants and their suppliers, with a particular focus on timber suppliers. Data has mainly been collected through participative observations and interviews. Five situational factors that improve the relationship performance of supplier integration in category management are identified: large retailer firms, supplier product knowledge, homogeneity of market demands for the supplier’s products, mutual trust and a shared view on customer value between the supplier and retailer. Three situational factors are identified that affect the interdependence between the retailer and the supplier when supplier integration in category management is implemented: supplier product knowledge, whether the supplier or the retailer initiates the integration and whether coercive or non-coercive power has to be used in the implementation. This thesis contributes to retail literature by highlighting the need to include situational factors in the analysis of supplier integration, clarifying which activities are comprised by category management and suggesting a theoretical foundation based on the resource-based view and the transaction cost framework to analyse relationship performance in retailer-supplier dyads. When making decisions on integration, managers of retailers and their suppliers are advised to consider the fit with their overall strategy, the fit with the surrounding situation and the effects both in terms of interdependence and relationship performance.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Buyer-supplier relationships have been increasingly considered a critical part of contemporary supply chain management. In response to dynamic and unpredictable market changes, buyers and suppliers enter into cooperative relationships to pursue individual goals and joint goals for better economic and non-economic performance of the supply chain. On the other hand, cooperation between channel members is surrounded by uncertainty, which can create a detrimental impact on the performance of a supply chain. Previous research has focused on various aspects of uncertainty that could affect supply chain member behaviour. The present research contends that relationship behavioural factors play an important role in increasing or mitigating channel members’ perceived uncertainty in their supply or purchase decision-making. Specifically, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of retailer-supplier cooperation and retailer/supplier’s decision-making uncertainty (DMU) on retail supply chain performance from the perspectives of both the retailer and the supplier. A holistic model was developed as the theoretical framework for this conceptualisation. A sample of 202 retailers and 64 suppliers in the sporting goods retail business in Taiwan was used to separately test a number of hypothesised relationships by using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings indicate that both cooperation and DMU are the key determinants of retail supply chain performance, including financial performance and non-financial performance (i.e., supply flexibility and customer service). Financial performance is positively affected by retailer-supplier cooperation and negatively affected by DMU in both the retailer model and the supplier model. The five dimensions of retailer-supplier cooperation (i.e. trust, guanxi, dependence, coercive power and non-coercive power) have significant effects on cooperation. However, apart from guanxi with the retailer/supplier, neither other relationship dimensions nor retailer-supplier cooperation have any influence on retailer’s DMU or supplier’s DMU. The results also indicate that differences and similarities exist across retailers and suppliers with respect to the effects of several relationship dimensions on cooperation and uncertainty. 2 The holistic empirical model developed for this research contributes further to understanding the links, which have been lacking in the extant channel relationship literature and supply chain management literature, between buyer-supplier relationships, DMU, and supply chain performance. The findings that a retailer/supplier’s DMU can erode the performance of a supply chain in various aspects highlight the need for improvement in some areas of supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, through cooperation-enhancing actions between the retailer and the supplier. From a managerial perspective, the performance improvement in the supply chain, in turn, will motivate more reciprocal commitment and efforts from the retailer and the supplier to maintain their working relationship. As such, mutual trust and enriched guanxi, dependence and non-coercive power help both the retailer and the supplier to have less uncertainty in their purchase/supply decision-making process. It creates a win-win position for both parties in the supply chain.

Lic.-avh. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Kungliga Tekniska högskolan, 2007. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.