Hans-Christian Pfohl

Supply chain finance: optimizing financial flows in supply chains

Issues related to flows of goods and information are frequently discussed in the logistics and Supply Chain Management literature. But, only few contributions are exploring the financial flows associated with supply chains. This article reviews the state-of-the-art of research regarding financial flows in supply chains. In doing so, it becomes apparent that an explicit examination and optimisation of the cost of capital has been missing so far. In order to close this gap, a conceptual framework and a mathematical model of “Supply Chain Finance” is proposed.

State of the art in supply chain risk management research: empirical and conceptual findings and a roadmap for the implementation in practice

With regard to success and survival of a company, risk management is essentially important. Numerous insolvencies and financial crises have brought this complex issue to the attention of managers and scientists to a greater extent. There have already been rudimentary conceptual and empirical approaches to Supply Chain Risk Management. From analyzing conceptual papers and empirical studies, an integrative summary of the previous research is developed in order to identify the main principles of Supply Chain Risk Management and evolutionary steps for its implementation. This approach provides a framework for further analysis and exploration of Supply Chain Risk Management.

Inter‐organizational logistics systems in flexible production networks

Discusses the growth of inter‐firm logistics networks. Inter‐firm network denotes a complex arrangement of reciprocal, cooperative rather than competitive, relationships between legally independent but economically interdependent firms. Asserts that the organisation of the inter‐firm logistics network is influenced by the organisation of the network itself. Analyses the respective requirements of the inter‐organisational logistics system. Focuses on the question of which specific logistics‐related capabilities firms operating in production networks have to develop depending on the respective network type. Presents a qualitative study of a production network of a German car manufacturer to identify organisational capabilities and describe possible systemic development.

Organization for logistics: the contingency approach

Argues that the organization for logistics often favours an aggregation of all tasks into one department. This decision presupposes an extensive analysis of important contingency factors, like product line, environmental relations, technology and organizational size. However, such contingency factors have a limited influence, and are modified by the strategy of the organization. Defines selected contingency factors, examines the organization’s overall strategy and shows how these two factors can be combined in the light of the specific requirements of the firm’s logistical task.

Supplier parks in the German automotive industry: a critical comparison with similar concepts

Purpose – In the German automotive industry the supplier park concept is one of the new concepts in procurement logistics, evolved in the last years. To understand the spreading of supplier parks, it is necessary to look at actual requirements in procurement logistics in the German automotive industry and find out how supplier parks can be an answer to those requirements. For this purpose it is necessary to identify indicators describing this logistics platform. The objective of this paper is the demarcation of the supplier park concept against the concept of a freight traffic center and the concept of a distribution center. Thus, suggestions for improvements of supplier parks and first impacts for new concepts in procurement logistics can be dedicated.Design/methodology/approach – The approach of this paper is to develop a descriptive model of supplier parks. The description of concepts with specific indicators has to be always the first step in dealing scientifically with new concepts emerging in practi...

Organisationale Beziehungsfähigkeiten in komplexen kooperativen Beziehungen

Unternehmens- und Allianzennetzwerke (vgl. Sydow 1992, 79; Gomes-Casseres 1994, 62), also komplexe Formen kooperativer Arrangements zwischen Unternehmen, erfreuen sich gegenwartig eines starken Interesses, das sich letztendlich auch darin manifestiert, das der Netzwerkbegriff inzwischen Schlagwortcharakter angenommen hat und das Thema selbst bereits den Status eines Modethemas oder Mythos innehat (vgl. die kritischen Auserungen von Reis 1998, 224; Hellmer u.a. 1999). Auch wenn die vielfach geauserte Erwartung, das Netzwerke „die“ Organisationsform der Zukunft bilden (vgl. z.B. Hinterhuber/Levin 1994; Cravens/Shipp/Cravens 1994) wohl in der Tat eher Ausdruck einer „Mode des Zeitgeistes“ (Ortmann/Sydow 1999, 206) ist, und empirische Untersuchungen zeigen, das Unternehmen bislang oftmals einfache Formen der Kooperation, mit einer kleinen Zahl von Partnern, bevorzugen (vgl. BIE 1995, 60f.; Staudt et al. 1995, 1216),1 so stimmen doch viele Studien darin uberein, das eine Zunahme kooperativer Arrangements zwischen Unternehmen zu beobachten ist (vgl. Doz 1992, Pekar/Allio 1994, 57f.; Hammes 1994, 191ff.; Diener/Dransmann 1998, 64ff.). In dem Mase, wie das Eingehen von Kooperationsbeziehungen also gleichsam zu einer normalen, sich regelmasig wiederholenden Aktivitat von Unternehmen wird, entwickelt sich das Vermogen zu kooperativen Formen der Zusammenarbeit zu einer Voraussetzung fur das Bestehen im Wettbewerb (vgl. Endres/Wehner 1995,1) oder kann gar zur Quelle eines Wettbewerbsvorteils werden (vgl. den Gedanken des „collaborative advantage“ in Kanter 1994).

Eastern-Western supplier-customer relationships in agricultural machinery industry: results of an empirical investigation in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, and Germany

Abstract International trade between Germany and the young reform states in Central and Eastern Europe is growing rapidly. Germany is the most important trading partner for nearly all of the Central and Eastern European countries. Nevertheless, there are relatively few empirical studies concerning purchasing activities of western manufacturers in Central and Eastern Europe. Especially the characteristics of successful relationships between Central and Eastern suppliers and their western customers have not been addressed. This paper presents results of a survey carried out in the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Germany. The research reported, contributes towards answering the following research questions. (1) What are the reasons for establishing Eastern-Western supplier-customer relationships? (2) What are the characteristics of German customers buying in Central and Eastern Europe? (3) Which attributes are prominent by Eastern suppliers? (4) What are the ingredients of a successful supplier-customer relationship? The survey showed that many successful relationships between German manufacturers and Central European suppliers have been established. The importance of these relationships for both suppliers and customers is shown by the average share of materials by value bought in Central and Eastern Europe, the high specificity of the purchased materials, the types of contracts employed, and the extent of support activities. Furthermore, the study has identified the requirements and numerous attributes of successful Eastern-Western supplier-customer relationships.

Sourcing from Central and Eastern Europe: Conditions and Implementation

Describes the country‐specific conditions and developments in Central and Eastern Europe, the risks and opportunities of sourcing in this region and the measures necessary to implement supply systems including eastern suppliers. In order to use the future capabilities of eastern companies, it will be necessary to shape long‐running, cooperative relations. Four major tasks of implementing procurement systems involving suppliers from Central and Eastern Europe can be distinguished: the establishment of an appropriate internal organization to facilitate sourcing in Central and Eastern Europe; the identification, assessment, and selection of eastern suppliers; the development of suppliers′ capabilities and performance; and the implementation of logistical and legal relationships between the buyer and the supplier necessary for the operation of the procurement system. Therefore, not only the purchase prices have to be considered in procurement decisions, but also any other related costs. Higher logistics costs...

Netzwerkspezifische Wettbewerbsvorteile durch Cluster

„Cluster“ wird häufig als Synonym für vollkommen unterschiedliche Strukturen verwendet, die als Gemeinsamkeit eine nicht näher spezifizierte unternehmensübergreifende Kooperation innerhalb einer Region haben. Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, das Begriffsverständnis für Cluster zu schärfen und ein Cluster-Modell zu entwickeln, das die Generierung von Wettbewerbsvorteilen in dieser Kooperationsform mittels des Relational View erklärt.

Bewertung heuristischer Methoden

ZusammenfassungIn dem vorliegenden Aufsatz wird versucht, Bewertungskriterien für heuristische Methoden aufzustellen. Den Ausgangspunkt bildet die im wirtschaftlichen Bereich zentrale Norm der ökonomischen Effizienz. Aus ihr werden Kriterien und Meßvorschriften für die Kriterien abgeleitet. Durch Ermittlung ihrer Ausprägungen lassen sich heuristische Methoden untereinander vergleichen. Daneben können die Kriterien als Beitrag zu der von Müller-Merbach initiierten Diskussion um die Methodologie heuristischer Methoden angesehen werden. Sie dienen dann als Grundlage für die Entscheidung, aus welchen Elementen eine heuristische Methode zusammenzusetzen ist.SummaryIn this paper an attempt is made to set up criteria for the evaluation of heuristic methods. Starting from the economical efficiency as the central norm in economics, criteria and rules for measurement of these criteria are derived. Their values enable to compare heuristic methods. Furthermore the criteria can be regarded as a contribution to the discussion about the methodology of heuristic methods initiated by Müller-Merbach. In this case they help to make rational decisions about which elements should compose a heuristic method.