Helen Rogers

Supply chains and supply networks: distinctions and overlaps

Purpose – Although supply chain management is now an established field, the distinction between supply chains and supply networks is relatively immature and requires further investigation. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the distinction between supply chains and supply networks. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a review of the literature and assisted by input from academic experts during a relevant supply chain management workshop, this paper critiques seminal and extant theoretical developments in the field of supply chain management. Findings – The main contribution of this paper is the development of an outline classification of relevant dimensions where the concepts of supply chain and supply network are compared and their distinctive features are highlighted. The paper identifies strategic opportunities emanating from considering both the supply chain and supply network, and the associated levels of engagement with active and inactive members in terms of, inter alia, complexity, members...

Cultural determinants of email communication styles

Based on a sample of 234 IT consulting and services professionals from various cultural backgrounds, this study investigates whether Edward T. Hall’s concept of culture can explain cultural differences in email communication. Although a vast array of intercultural research employs Hall’s concept in various communication settings, few take into account the computer-mediated communication technologies that now play an integral role in the operations of international companies. Our results show that cultural differences in email are present and can be explained by Hall’s dimensions of context, time, and space orientation. In particular, cultural background has a significant impact on the preference for formalness, promptness, preciseness, task-relatedness, and relationship-relatedness in email communication. Implications for managers as well as future studies are derived.

Managing and training for virtual teams in India

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the current and potential use of virtual teams in the Indian context.Design/methodology/approach – The use of virtual styles and strategies was assessed through a series of questionnaires, focusing on managerial aspects. The sample consisted of companies and individuals from Europe, who work on virtual assignments. The results were analysed, paying particular attention to the actual usage and potential future usage of virtual assignments.Findings – It was found that a disparity between the actual and the potential use of virtual delegates exists. Furthermore, the increasing use of virtual delegates requires tailored intercultural training, which meets the specific demands of these delegates and the requirements of virtual teamwork. The paper goes on to discuss how traditional training can be adapted for the training of virtual assignees.Originality/value – The findings have implications for both academics and practitioners, as they indicate that there ...

3D printing services: classification, supply chain implications and research agenda

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the available types of 3D printing services, with the scope of determining the potential implications that such services could have on the supply chains of manufacturing firms and creating a research agenda for future studies. Design/methodology/approach The authors review the current literature on the potential supply chain impacts of 3D printing and evaluate the 3D printing services provided by 404 firms in selected European markets. Findings The results show that 3D printing services form a rapidly evolving industry, with new service providers entering the market on a regular basis. Evidence from the European markets investigated suggests that services can be classified into three distinct categories: generative, facilitative and selective services. Research limitations/implications This paper represents an attempt to take stock of a fast-moving and potentially paradigm-shifting market. The implications are dynamic as new applications, business models and techniques are continually being developed. Further studies are required to substantiate the findings. Practical implications Three categories of 3D printing services that could significantly impact supply chain configurations of the future are proposed. Several issues specific to 3D printing services raised in the research agenda require further scrutiny and substantiation before services can reach their full potential. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of the growing 3D printing services industry, highlighting how the market might change as additive manufacturing technology matures.

Contextualising the holistic cost of uncertainty in outsourcing manufacturing supply chains

Uncertainty is hard to measure but often a central factor that influences outsourcing decisions. Assessing the holistic cost of uncertainty within the context of supply chain activities is the focus of this paper. The aim was to assess the holistic cost of uncertainty within outsourcing manufacturing supply chains, with a view to assisting firms to make more informed decisions when outsourcing. Our specific objectives were to understand and contextualise outsourcing uncertainty, assess the tangible and intangible costs that this uncertainty can bring and explore ways to manage this uncertainty. Stage 1 involved understanding existing outsourcing relationships through a questionnaire survey. Results from 107 questionnaires and 15 interviews with companies that outsource some aspect of their manufacturing were analysed. This revealed that the majority of companies felt that expected outsourcing benefits were not fully achieved, with cost uncertainty emerging as a major issue. Stage 2 involved carrying out in-depth case studies with five leading UK engineering firms, in order to better understand and contextualise the causes and consequences of cost of uncertainty during outsourcing. A resulting framework contextualises holistic costs of uncertainty in manufacturing supply chains.

Co-creating value in the automotive supply chain: an RFID application for processing finished vehicles

The aim of this study was to investigate the capability of a radio-frequency-identification (RFID)-based information system in the international distribution process of a car manufacturer. This innovative cross-company RFID application has been developed, implemented and evaluated in practice and reported here in the form of a case study. The results show that RFID applied to this application is mature enough for use in a manufacturing industry setting and furthermore that it generates significant benefits for the entire distribution supply chain. This research provides practitioners with insights into a successful RFID application by presenting criteria for hardware selection and the design of the system and testing phase. It also highlights the shared benefits available to supply chain partners. Further research is needed to develop greater standardisation for a network-wide data exchange and to develop cost-benefit sharing concepts.

Supply chain configuration conundrum: how does the pharmaceutical industry mitigate disturbance factors?

Abstract How a supply chain (SC) is configured can have a significant impact on the performance of global firms. More specifically, disturbance factors (i.e. those factors associated with uncertainty and risk) are increasingly important considerations. This paper focuses on endogenous, exogenous and environment-related SC disturbance factors and their relative importance when configuring global SCs. Three alternative scenarios of SC configurations for European-based pharmaceutical firms are identified – insource nearshore, outsource nearshore and outsource offshore. Through a multi-phase, mixed-methods approach we find that the top five disturbance factors managers should be aware of while configuring their SCs are quality defects, unforeseen and random interruptions in manufacturing processes, order processing difficulties, untimely delivery of products and a mismatch between market demand and supplier responsiveness. This study is able to provide insights into the impact of disturbance factors on the SC configuration strategy for Big Pharmas (BPs). We show that SC disturbances influenced the decision to bring production back home (reshoring) or to a closer location (nearshoring). To mitigate the effects of disturbances many BPs recalibrated their SC configurations by insourcing core products, outsourcing non-core products offshore and developing offshore insourcing capabilities through ‘captives’.

Supply chain risk management in India – practical insights

This paper reviews the supply chain risk management (SCRM) literature to identify as well as to discuss and elaborate on the impact and origin of major supply chain risk factors in an Indian context. Through a combination of existing literature and a survey instrument, we identify major SCRM issues including underlying supply chain risks and thereafter identify gaps, issues and opportunities for further research. SCRM has become a popular research topic, in part owing to increased globalisation of business. Moreover competitive factors such as shorter product life cycles, technological innovations and changing government policies have brought this topic more sharply into focus. We carried out a survey among Indian supply chain professionals, based on supply chain risk constructs developed from a literature review. Statistical analysis utilised exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine the major risk factors in the Indian supply chain sector. We found a range of supply chain risks prevalent in Indian supply chains, classified here as cultural, operational, infrastructure, economic, forecasting and supplier-related risks. However, for a variety of reasons and as discussed in the paper, the implications can vary considerably. Based on the findings we provide a future SCRM research agenda from an Indian perspective. As international supply chains increasingly have Indian partners and domestic firms within India seek to be globally competitive, the risks need to be better understood. This is the first detailed study on SCRM practices in an Indian context.

RFID in Retail Supply Chains: Current Developments and Future Potential

This paper presents a study that investigates the implementation of RFID projects in German and Swiss retail supply chains from a qualitative perspective. The semi-structured interviews with experts from companies in the retail supply chain sector enabled us to gain insights into the problems RFID implementations have to face, as well as the benefits associated with them. In conjunction with a literature review, this allows us to identify the future challenges and potential of RFID applications in the retail industry.

The impact of rent–based supplier management activities on purchasing performance

The increasing pace of globalisation and deregulation has changed the role of purchasing and it has evolved from a (traditional) routine to a more prominent strategic function. This research tests and analyses the strategic character of the purchasing function and its ability to create competitive advantages for its company. Based on the four important strategy theory approaches: market-based view, resource-based view (RBV) capability-based view and relational view and their respective rent generation mechanisms, the research framework developed evaluates whether specific rent-based supplier management activities across industries have an impact on performance, as proposed in the strategy literature.