A. Claudio Garavelli

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND INTER-FIRM RELATIONSHIPS IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS : THE ROLE OF THE LEADER FIRM

Abstract In the literature, knowledge transfer is widely emphasized as a strategic issue for firm competition. In this paper, the knowledge transfer is investigated referring to customer–supplier relationships in industrial districts. The knowledge transfer process is described and a framework is provided to define the main components of the process. A model is proposed to analyse how a leader firm of an industrial district can modify the knowledge nature and adopt different types of supply relationship to increase the effectiveness of knowledge transfer. The model stresses that, when the knowledge transfer has to be fast and reliable between customer and supplier, knowledge has to be codified. However, as the codification level increases, knowledge can be easily shared with other district competitors. Then, the leader firm can also try to control the knowledge transfer by the reduction of the number of suppliers. Referring to the case of an industrial district, some considerations are made to show the practical implications of the knowledge control by the district leader firm.

Flexibility configurations for the supply chain management

Abstract Facing a dynamic and complex environment, networked companies often require the coordination of many plants, which produce and deliver goods to customers located in different places, and suppliers, which provide each plant with the required components. A way to optimize the product flows in supply chains (SCs) is to adopt the concept of limited flexibility , that is a particular configuration of product assignments to plants and components to suppliers which can yield many benefits without dramatically increasing the flexibility costs. In this paper, a simulation model is proposed to evaluate the performance of different configurations of a SC. In particular, based on a work-in-process and time performance analysis, the different configurations are analyzed in order to support the selection of suitable flexibility degrees of the operations network.

Managing knowledge transfer by knowledge technologies

This paper is aimed at investigating the properties which should characterize a knowledge technology (KT), that is, a technology suitable to effectively support knowledge management. After an outline of the scientific background and of the main current research tracks on knowledge management, the paper focuses on knowledge transfer, which is analyzed by two main cognitive processes: codification and interpretation. The paper argues that, to define the properties of a KT, it is necessary to analyze the cognitive context in which knowledge transfer takes place. A cognitive approach for knowledge transfer analysis is then proposed to guide the definition of the KT properties, and some examples are discussed focusing on some basic technologies of the Internet.

Performance analysis of a batch production system with limited flexibility

Abstract The concept of limited flexibility, originally applied to production planning, has shown that many benefits of totally flexible systems can be obtained by less flexible systems. This concept is here applied to shop floor control. Limited flexibility is considered as a particular routing flexibility that allows system resources to process some products according to a logic chain, as an intermediate configuration between a totally flexible system (where every resource can process every product) and a non-flexible system (dedicated resources). A simulation study is carried out to measure the system performance such as the lead time and work-in-process for different system configurations, with variable demand, setup times and processing times.

Limited flexibility in cellular manufacturing systems: A simulation study

Cellular manufacturing systems (CMSs) can be strongly affected by uncertainty. In this paper, some effects of the demand variability and resource dependability on the performance of a CMS are investigated. The use of routing flexibility is considered to search CMS configurations that optimize system performance. Referring to the concept of limited flexibility, a simulation model is proposed to analyze costs and benefits of routing flexibility in a CMS. Three problems are addressed and some results, in terms of cost and system performance, are provided by examples.

Some effect of flexibility and dependability on cellular manufacturing system performance

Abstract The advantages of cellular manufacturing organization can be strongly affected by uncertainty. In particular, the effects of resource dependability on system performance are investigated. The use of routing flexibility in cellular manufacturing systems (CMS) is analyzed to search system configurations that optimize system performance. Adopting the concept of “limited flexibility” proposed in the literature, a simulation model is proposed to point out some trade-off between routing flexibility costs and benefits in a CMS with both constant and variable part family demand. Three specific problems are addressed and quantitative results, in terms of costs and lost sale performance, are provided by case examples.

A knowledge framework for problem solving in the worldwide manufacturing competition

The complexity of manufacturing problems stresses the role of knowledge management in organisations. In fact, the global market competition forces companies to be not only fast and creative to face demand requirements, but also efficient and effective to coordinate the supply-chain flows. This article proposes a framework to analyse manufacturing problems according to a knowledge management perspective. The analysis is based on the main knowledge processes involved in problem solving, namely knowledge generation, memory, transfer and codification. Each of them can be assessed by variables such as uncertainty, space-dependence, time-dependence, and codification level, describing manufacturing problems in terms of, for instance, degree of coordination and integration, repetitiveness or uniqueness of the solution. The definition of the most suitable ICT to support problem solving in a specific manufacturing context is then provided, allowing the definition of possible actions to pursue performance improvement. Finally, some examples of the framework implementation in organisations operating in the automotive industry are described, to show the potentialities of the approach.