Background: Supplier integration is becoming increasingly important due to the increased globalisation in the business world nowadays. Today’s focal firm does not operate independently, but as a part of its supply chain which competes with other supply chains in the market. The number of the focal SMEs in Europe comprises 99% of companies operating throughout the continent. However, the vast majority of the existing literature is investigating supplier integration from MNEs’ perspectives. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to generate a new supplier integration theory for SMEs. The study aims to compare how SMEs and MNEs conduct supplier integration, spotting the similarities and differences in their approaches and finding out the reasons behind these varying approaches. Method: We choose a relativist ontology and a constructionist epistemology. Within the boundaries of these research assumptions, we follow an inductive multiple case study approach with exploratory characteristics. The case study consists out of 12 cases, six out of the plant engineering industry and six from the mechanical engineering industry. Each industry is represented by three SMEs and three MNEs. Our findings are gathered through coded and categorised interview transcripts, based on which a critical comparative discussion is done. Conclusion: Through our study we find size and industry related differences in conducting supplier integration. Next to obvious circumstances such as limited resources, we identify personal contact, trust creation and industry specifics as main drivers for variation in supplier integration approaches. Furthermore, we conclude that SMEs fit in particular cases better into the reviewed supplier integration literature, since their focus in relationships leads to a more sustainable interest into the partner’s economic well-being. Finally, our findings show mimetic behaviour in SMEs adopting MNEs’ managerial approaches, characterised by classification, evaluation and strategizing.

In the rapid pace of globalization and new market competition, the New Product Development (NPD) and the Supply Chain Management (SCM) represent today a frontier to obtain competitive advantages to companies. One interface between NPD and the SCM, the Supplier Integration (SI) has proved to be effective as competitive advantage. However, there is a lack of research on how human variables, such as national culture, can moderate the effectiveness of Supplier Integration on those fields. Therefore, this study investigates the relationships between Supplier Integration from the Product-Process-Supply Chain triad and the National Culture Dimensions. I conducted an exploratory case study in 3 companies in the automobilist industry that operates as a Modular Consortium (MC) in Southern Brazil and used the Hofstede´s (2001) national culture dimensions to model national cultural factors. The findings show an evident relation between Supplier Integration with the Low Power Distance, Low Individualism and High Uncertainty Avoidance poles, while no Masculinity and Longterm Orientation pole was distinct for the Supplier Integration in the case study. The managerial implications of this study is to provide a better understanding of the potential impact of human factor to the Supplier Integration in companies that will have operations in Brazil. / No ritmo acelerado da globalização e nova concorrência no mercado, Desenvolvimento de Novos Produtos (NPD) e Supply Chain Management (SCM) representam hoje uma fronteira para obter vantagens competitivas para as empresas. Uma interface entre o NPD e o SCM, a Integração do Fornecedor (SI) provou ser eficaz como vantagem competitiva. No entanto, há uma falta de investigação sobre como variáveis humanas, tais como cultura nacional, pode moderar a eficácia da integração do fornecedor (SI) nesses campos do conhecimento. Portanto, este estudo investiga as relações entre fornecedor Integração da Cadeia na tríade Produto-Processo-Cadeia de Suprimentos e as Dimensões da Cultura Nacional. Para tal foi realizado um estudo de caso exploratório em três empresas do setor automobilístico que operam no Consórcio Modular (MC) no Sudeste do Brasil e usaram-se as dimensões culturais de Hofstede\'s (2001) para modelar fatores humanos. Os resultados mostram uma evidente relação entre a integração do fornecedor com a baixa Distância do Poder, baixo Individualismo e elevada Aversão à Incerteza, no entanto não foram obtidas relações evidentes para as dimensões Masculinidade e Orientação a Longo Prazo para a Integração do Fornecedor no estudo de caso. A principal colaboração deste trabalho é o fornecimento de uma melhor compreensão do potencial impacto do fator humano para a integração do fornecedor em empresas que possuem operações no Brasil.

Business Administration, Business Process & Supply Chain Management, Degree Project (master), 15 higher education credits, 4FE06E, Spring 2013 Authors: Doruntina Pacarizi and Ya-Hui Hsu Tutor: Petra Andersson Title: Conflicting Goal and its Impact on the Level of Supply Chain Integration between Supply Chain Partners in the Automotive Industry – From Manufacturing SME’s Perspective Background: Supply chain integration assists SMEs to improve their operational performance, however the existing theories in supply chain integration are mostly from the LEs perspective. Therefore this thesis chose to focus on the level of supply chain integration from manufacturing SMEs perspective. Nevertheless supply chain integration is not simple due to conflicting goal, which exists between supply chain partners. Based on previous knowledge, the level of supply chain integration is affected by conflicting goal, which exits between supply chain partners. We believe that this is based on how the conflicting goal has been managed. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to obtain an understanding if the level of integration in the automotive industry between the manufacturing SME and its customer is affected by how the conflicting has been managed. Method: This thesis is a multiple case study and was conducted with a deductive approach. The empirical findings were gathered through qualitative interviews with semi-structured interview guides. Conclusions: The conclusions of this thesis are that the level of supply chain integration, which exists between manufacturing SME and its customer, is low/medium. Furthermore, the conflicting goal, which exists between these partners, are that the demand of delivery and volume flexibility, storage flexibility, demand of quality level and the relatively high manufacturing complexity as well as downstream complexity. Finally, the result of this thesis shows that the level of supply chain integration is affected by how the conflicting goal has been managed.

In the past years supply chain integration has become focus of interest, due to the discussion in the literature, that a positive direct relationship exists between higher supply chain integration and higher performance. Additionally, the environmental and social performance of supply chains gained much interest based on the new sustainability focus in the 21st century. The production of electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing global manufacturing activities. However, due to technological advancements, the quick obsolescence of electronics result in increased generation of waste of electrical and electronic equipment. Germany is one of the leading electrical and electronic equipment markets within Europe and is strongly affected by the EU directives and regulations, which aim not only to protect human health but also to improve the environmental performance of the electrical and electronic equipment operators in particular. Therefore, the environmental and social performance of German electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers is increasingly gaining importance. Respectively, the purpose of this study is to investigate what effect the depth of upstream supply chain integration has on the environmental and social performance of German electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers. This study is based on the quantitative research method. The required empirical data is generated through an online questionnaire, which has been sent to German electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers. An initial operationalization of upstream supply chain integration depth and environmental and social performance is used as a foundation for the questionnaire. It can be concluded that German electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers seem to have a coordinative upstream supply chain integration and presumably have a Abstract 4 moderate environmental and social performance. Furthermore, it can be assumed that the upstream supply chain integration depth has an effect on the environmental and social performance of German electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers.

Supply Chain Integration (SCI) has been found by previous research to be correlated withincreased business performance. However, the rate of implementation of the concept isdependent on the industry, implying that this is determined by industry-specific factors. Thepurpose of this study was therefore to investigate how the Swedish wooden house industryapproaches SCI, and thereby identify industry-specific factors that influence integration. Toaccomplish this, an exploratory multiple case study was conducted, in which Swedish woodenhouse manufacturers and associated actors were interviewed. The study confirmed that thewooden house industry is affected by factors limiting SCI implementation, and that companiesin the industry are not integrated to any significant degree. Further, two industry-specificfactors were discovered to be inhibiting integration. First, the degree of product customizationgranted to customers by house manufacturers determines how much control over procurementdecisions is retained, and thereby potential for integration with suppliers. Customer orientationwas found to inhibit SCI in the wooden house industry due to its effect on productcustomization, in spite of previous literature classifying it as a driver. Secondly, thefragmentation of the contractor market was found to force house manufacturers to deal with amultitude of small actors to perform the on-site construction function, limiting investments inrelationships for any one given actor. The study also found that levels of internal integrationwas generally not at a level at which the benefits of SCI can be fully realized.

In the rapid pace of globalization and new market competition, the New Product Development (NPD) and the Supply Chain Management (SCM) represent today a frontier to obtain competitive advantages to companies. One interface between NPD and the SCM, the Supplier Integration (SI) has proved to be effective as competitive advantage. However, there is a lack of research on how human variables, such as national culture, can moderate the effectiveness of Supplier Integration on those fields. Therefore, this study investigates the relationships between Supplier Integration from the Product-Process-Supply Chain triad and the National Culture Dimensions. I conducted an exploratory case study in 3 companies in the automobilist industry that operates as a Modular Consortium (MC) in Southern Brazil and used the Hofstede´s (2001) national culture dimensions to model national cultural factors. The findings show an evident relation between Supplier Integration with the Low Power Distance, Low Individualism and High Uncertainty Avoidance poles, while no Masculinity and Longterm Orientation pole was distinct for the Supplier Integration in the case study. The managerial implications of this study is to provide a better understanding of the potential impact of human factor to the Supplier Integration in companies that will have operations in Brazil. / No ritmo acelerado da globalização e nova concorrência no mercado, Desenvolvimento de Novos Produtos (NPD) e Supply Chain Management (SCM) representam hoje uma fronteira para obter vantagens competitivas para as empresas. Uma interface entre o NPD e o SCM, a Integração do Fornecedor (SI) provou ser eficaz como vantagem competitiva. No entanto, há uma falta de investigação sobre como variáveis humanas, tais como cultura nacional, pode moderar a eficácia da integração do fornecedor (SI) nesses campos do conhecimento. Portanto, este estudo investiga as relações entre fornecedor Integração da Cadeia na tríade Produto-Processo-Cadeia de Suprimentos e as Dimensões da Cultura Nacional. Para tal foi realizado um estudo de caso exploratório em três empresas do setor automobilístico que operam no Consórcio Modular (MC) no Sudeste do Brasil e usaram-se as dimensões culturais de Hofstede\'s (2001) para modelar fatores humanos. Os resultados mostram uma evidente relação entre a integração do fornecedor com a baixa Distância do Poder, baixo Individualismo e elevada Aversão à Incerteza, no entanto não foram obtidas relações evidentes para as dimensões Masculinidade e Orientação a Longo Prazo para a Integração do Fornecedor no estudo de caso. A principal colaboração deste trabalho é o fornecimento de uma melhor compreensão do potencial impacto do fator humano para a integração do fornecedor em empresas que possuem operações no Brasil.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / This research analyzes the Peruvian organic production coffee industry, the relationship between Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Supply Chain Integration (SCI) concerning the performance of the Cooperatives and the Coffee Associations in Junin Region of Peru. It also analyzes the current scenario of the Coffee Sector and the participation of the Supply Chain (SC) in the processing and distribution of Organic Coffee in Junin, Peru. A diagnosis was made to the certified organizations from the market. The diagnosis and the surveys indicated that they do not have a correct flow of information, shared goals and objectives, strategic decisions, and sourcing materials among the different parties demonstrating the lack of interrelationship among the members. The final objective of this research is to improve the competitiveness of these organizations through the increase in the performance of the SC, for which a model of supply chain integration is proposed. / Revisión por pares

Syfte –Studiens syfte är att utforska Supply Chain Integration (SCI) och undersöka hur leverantörer och företagskunder ser på det. För att uppnå syftet har tre frågeställningar formulerats vilka är:   Vilka principer är viktiga för SCI och hur ser leverantörer och företagskunder på dessa? Vilka utmaningar upplever leverantörer och företagskunder vid integration? Hur vill leverantörer och företagskunder arbeta med integration?   Metod –  För att besvara syftet och frågeställningarna användes en kvalitativ inriktad ansats med ett induktivt tillvägagångsätt som utgår från att analysera en stor mängd teoretiskt och empiriskt utfall om SCI:s principer och utmaningar. Analysen generar sedan resultatet.   Resultat – Studien visar att konceptet SCI måste fastställas och urskilja de viktiga principerna inom ämnet för att kunna verkställa konceptet praktiskt i en verksamhet. Det mest centrala som framgår av resultatet är att kravställandet har en stor påverkan på samarbetet och att företag därför måste ta det i beaktning.   Implikationer – Konceptet SCI är väldigt vagt där många forskare använder sig av äldre källor som än idag är aktuella vilket tyder på att det är ett svårt koncept att fastställa och där ny forskning kommer fram till det som redan fastställts av äldre källor. Den teoretiska implikationen med studien har varit att identifiera de viktiga principerna för SCI som kan sedan förvaltas vidare i senare forskning. Studien bidrar till ökad förståelse för hur en framgångsrik SCI kan uppnås och hur den kan vidareutvecklas till att skapa ett mer verklighetsförankrat koncept. Den empiriska implikationen av studien är att företag bör skapa en mer ökad förståelse för konceptet SCI kring ett ömsesidigt beroendeförhållande.   Begränsningar – Studien har genererat ett resultat som är mer generellt. Anledningen är för att studien riktat sig in på tre fallföretag oberoende bransch och deras perspektiv på SCI och då har  mycket generell information samlats in som leder till det generella resultatet.   Nyckelord – Supply chain integration, Samsyn, Långsiktig relation, Informationsdelning, Makt, Krav. / Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the concept, Supply Chain Integration (SCI) based on a buyer-seller perspective. To fulfil the aim, three research questions have been formulated: Which principles are important within the concept of SCI and how does the buyer and seller relate to them? Which challenges does the buyer and seller identify when working with integration? How does the buyer and seller work with integration?   Method –  To fulfil the aim and answer the research questions, a qualitative approach has been adapted to the study with the help of an inductive approach. This means that the results of the theoretical framework and the empirical data have been analyzed based on SCI:s principles and challenges.   Findings – The study shows that the concept must be established and distinguish the important principles within the subject to be able to facilitate the concept practically in a business. The most central part of the results appears to be the requirement settings that have a major impact on the integration. Companies must therefore take this into consideration.   Implications – The concept SCI is very vague because many researchers use older sources that are still up to date. This indicates that it is a difficult concept to determine and where new research shows what has already been established by older sources. The theoretical implication with the study has been to identify the important principles for SCI, which can be further managed in later research. The study contributes to increased understanding of how a successful SCI can be achieved and how it can be further developed to create a more realistic concept. The empirical implication of the study is that companies should create a greater understanding of the concept SCI in order to create an interdependent relationship between a buyer and a seller in a supply chain.   Limitations – The study has generated a more general result. The reason for this is that the study focused on three case companies their perspective on subject SCI. The companies operate in different industries and because of that, very general information has been collected which leads to the general result.   Keywords – Supply chain integration, key principles, consensus, long-term relationship, information sharing, power, requirements.

D. Tech. (Logistics, Faculty of Management Science), Vaal University of Technology / The strategic importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their role in stimulating economic growth and competitiveness in many countries are well documented in literature. The same applies to South Africa, where the SME sector has grown tremendously to become an important contributor to social and economic development through employment creation and constant input to the gross domestic product. However, in spite of these contributions, South African SMEs face numerous challenges, which negatively impact their prospects for growth and success. Some of these challenges include the limited access to financial capital, the lack of infrastructure and the lack of skills, which play a significant role in the high mortality rate of SMEs. One of the proposed solutions to address these operational challenges is the adoption of supply chain management strategies to strengthen the operational and long-term capabilities of SMEs. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between supply chain management best practices, supply chain agility, risk management and supply chain performance in South African SMEs. The study applied a quantitative approach in which a cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data to test direct and indirect relationships between different constructs (buyer-supplier collaboration, supply chain integration, total quality management, IT adoption, supply chain agility, supply chain risk management and supply chain performance). A structured survey questionnaire was developed using adapted measurement scales and administered to 407 randomly selected SME owners, managers and professional employees who had some knowledge about supply chain management. The collected quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 24.0) and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS version 24.0) statistical software. The actual data analyses techniques applied included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using structural equation modelling. The latter included a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the psychometric properties of measurement scales and the testing of the six hypotheses using the path analyses technique. The results of the study showed positive and significant relationships between all supply chain management practices and supply chain agility. Specifically, buyer-supplier collaboration and total quality management exerted a moderate and significant influence on supply chain agility. Moreover, IT adoption had a strong positive and significant relationship with supply chain agility iv while supply chain integration had a weak but significant relationship with the same factor. More results provided from the analysis confirmed the existence of a very strong and significant relationship between supply chain agility and supply chain risk management. In turn, supply chain risk management had a strong positive relationship with supply chain performance. The study also takes note of its contributions to highlight its merits. From a theoretical perspective, it provides an in-depth examination of some driving factors to supply chain agility, supply chain risk management and supply chain performance within SMEs. Given that a study of this nature has not been performed before amongst South African SMEs, the results are an essential addition to the existing body of literature within the area of supply chain management within SMEs in developing countries such as South Africa. From a management perspective, the study suggests that specific attention should be directed to all of the four supply chain management practices (buyer-supplier collaboration, supply chain integration, IT adoption and total quality management) considered as possible avenues to address operational challenges in SMEs.

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