Abstract
Manufacturing companies have reorganised their value chains and outsourced
their
non-core activities at an increasing rate during the last two decades. The
importance of subcontractors has grown both from the economic and production
point of view. The new manufacturing paradigm that emphases outsourcing,
co-operation, networking and agility is much discussed on the general level, but
very little empirical research has been done on these issues. The main aim of the
study is to increase the understanding of the evolution process of subcontracting
chains and explain the managerial aspects connected with the subcontractors'
evolution.
In the theoretical part I of the study, the concepts of
subcontracting are clarified. The forms to classify subcontractors are discussed
as the structure and development of subcontracting systems. The lean supply
philosophy and manufacturing strategy concept are presented as a basis for the
study. The manufacturing strategy framework for subcontractors is presented.
The empirical findings of this study are based on longitudinal case studies
covering the time period from the early 1980's to the late 1990's. Three cases
from the metal and electronics industry including an OEM and a few subcontractors
are presented. The studies focuses on the factors affecting the evolution of
subcontracting, especially the impacts of subcontractors' manufacturing strategy
on supply chain decisions. The implications of the case studies allow a number of
conclusions to be drawn. The main differences from the lean supply theory was in
supplier development and supply chain management practices The production volume,
product structure and supplier base were the most important points affecting the
subcontracting chain structure. The process of assigning manufacturing to
subcontractors happened gradually and included critical points, which should be
evaluated. The evolution process of subcontractors from a part supplier towards a
system supplier is discussed. The competitiveness of the subcontractors evolves
gradually starting from quality and adding other capabilities. In order to
develop the subcontracting chain the stage of evolution of subcontractors should
be recognised. A conceptual model for four different stages, part, component,
specialist and system supplier, was also created in this study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:oulo.fi/oai:oulu.fi:isbn951-42-6545-9 |
| Date | 29 October 2001 |
| Creators | Lehtinen, U. (Ulla) |
| Publisher | University of Oulu |
| Source Sets | University of Oulu |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess, © University of Oulu, 2001 |
| Relation | info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1455-2647, info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1796-2269 |
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