Holger Schrödl

Risk management in hybrid value creation

In the market for tangible goods, there is an increasing shift from the production of single individual products towards individualized mass customization. In contrast to this, so-called hybrid value bundles are getting more and more importance in achieving market share and in allowing for differentiation from competitors. Hybrid value bundles are integrated solutions combined of tangible and intangible goods. For these complex solutions, subparts are delivered from different suppliers and are bundled by a focal supplier. These bundles are delivered as a single solution to the customer. Heterogeneous suppliers within the supplier network require a complex supplier relationship management. Classic supply chain management techniques fail because of the specific requirements of hybrid value bundles, e.g. strong customer integration, different product lifecycles of the individual components or incompatible product specification. One key issue in supplier management is risk management. For this, the focal supplier has to evaluate its suppliers according to risk characteristics and then choose to take those that implicate the lowest risk. In hybrid value creation, one serious problem is the availability of guaranteed information. Especially for service components, relevant information is not available, not assured, or the supplier does not want to provide them. Therefore, a risk management model for hybrid value creation has to deal with incomplete, varying information. In this article, a risk management model is presented, which takes care of the specific requirements of hybrid value bundles in complex supply networks. This risk management model serves as a risk assessment framework for a focal supplier to identify supply chains with the lowest risk for a specific offering.

Adoption of cloud computing in supply chain management solutions: a SCOR-Aligned assessment

Efficient supply chains are a vital necessity for many companies. Supply chain management acts on operational processes, divergent and consolidated information flows and interaction processes with a variety of business partners. Efforts of recent years are usually facing this diversity by creating and organizing central information system solutions. Taking in account all the well-known problems of these central information systems, the question arises, whether cloud-based information systems represent a better alternative to establish an IT support for supply chain management. Aim of this paper is to investigate this question. This is done by considering fundamental aspects of cloud-based solutions under the perspectives of the SCOR model. We present the SCOR model shortly and provide a current market perspective on cloud computing and supply chain from the position of logistics and from the perspective of the software industry. Along the five key processes of the SCOR model we evaluate the potential of cloud-based information system architectures, and we discuss successful implemented examples from practice, but also challenges in future implementation. The paper concludes with recommendations for design and implementation to cloud-based information system support for supply chain management.

Light-Weight Composite Environmental Performance Indicators (LWC-EPI) Solution: A Systematic Approach towards Users Requirements

The acceleration of change in the environment, the consequent legislation, and the thereby improved social awareness have challenged companies to enhance their business strategies with respect to improvements in sustainability. A clear and comprehensive communication of a companys sustainability efforts has become an increasingly important factor for success in todays markets. Performance indicators, aligned with sustainable topics and a companys ability for sustainability reporting, are a way to face this challenge. The paper elaborates on the increased demand of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for an environmental management information system (EMIS), which adequately assesses the applications of relevant regulations to successfully curtail and reduce the enterprises impact on the environment while running its business. Based on a comprehensive survey of 272 companies, user requirements for an LWC-EPI solution are derived by applying an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), The results of the EFA are the foundation of the EMIS requirements model. This model helps companies focus on relevant issues when implementing or extending an environmental management information system.

Towards a Reference Model for the Identification of Strategic Supply Chains for Value Bundles

Enterprises search intensely to the avoidance of low pricing strategies for new ways to differ in a global market competition. Value bundles offer a promising response as a possibility to expand existing offers of independent products and service into an integrated problem solving for specific customer requirements. This differentiation strategy leads to a rising dependence between the offering enterprise and his suppliers. Strategic supply networks (SSN) offer enterprises the possibility to realize sustainable added value in the creation, deployment and disposal of such integrated solutions. Modeling of SSN encloses the main functions identification, evaluation and choice of supply networks for a specific demand of a value bundle. In this article we provide a reference model for the identification of SSN for value bundles. Therefore we evaluated existing reference models for the strategic sourcing of goods and services and identified lacking issues for the specific needs for value bundles. The derived model is evaluated by applying it to selected case studies.

Cost forecast of sheet metal parts using 3D CAD-models in SME

During the last decade the competition within the order-based sheet metal market has extremely increased. The supply price became one of the central economic questions for sheet metal working small and midsize enterprises (SME). To obtain a high reliability for cost coverage in the supply price, an accurate costing of the direct costs is necessary. This paper presents an integrated solution for a feature oriented quotation costing of sheet metal parts based on existing information from different sources.

Risikomanagement in der hybriden Wertschöpfung: ein Vergleichs- rahmen zur Bewertung von Risikomodellen für die Lieferantenauswahl

Seit den 1950er-Jahren beschaftigt sich die Literatur mit der Problematik der Lieferantenauswahl (Aissaoui et al. 2007). In den letzten Jahren allerdings wurde das Thema erneut aufgegriffen und fur die neu entstandenen Bedurfnisse der hybriden Wertschopfung erweitert. Hybride Leistungsbundel, hybride Produkte oder Product-Service Systems (PSS) (Aurich et al. 2007) sind eine Kombination aus Sach- und Dienstleistungen und verfolgen das Ziel, kundenspezifische Problemlosungen anzubieten.

Eine Light-Weight Composite Environmental Performance Indicators (LWC-EPI) Lösung – Eine systematische Entwicklung von EMIS, deren Anforderungen und Hindernisse aus Anwender-, Experten, und KMU-Perspektive

In Anbetracht der rasanten Veranderungen der Umwelt wird die Relevanz der aktuellen Umweltpolitik auf den Prufstand gestellt. Umweltveranderungen werden sichtbar, und ihre Auswirkungen haben das Potenzial, in den nachsten Jahrzehnten irreversibel zu werden. Eine klare und umfassende Kommunikation eines Unternehmens zur Nachhaltigkeit seiner Unternehmenspolitik hat sich zu einem zunehmend wichtigen Faktor fur den Erfolg in Markt entwickelt. Performance-Indikatoren, die im Einklang mit nachhaltigen Themen stehen und damit die Fahigkeit eines Unternehmens fur die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung darstellen, ein Weg, um dieser Herausforderung zu begegnen. Diese Arbeit beleuchtet die wachsenden Bedurfnisse der Beteiligung kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen (KMU) in dieser okologischen Nachhaltigkeitsbewegung. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die Barrieren, mit denen KMU konfrontiert sind, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) zu implementieren und Environmental Management Information Systems (EMISs) zu verwenden. Daruber hinaus bietet dieser Beitrag Empfehlungen, wie ein geeignetes EMIS fur KMU zu entwickeln ist. Dieser Beitrag umfasst eine Zusammenfassung der LWC-EPI-System-Ansatzes, der die Systemerwartung und die ihr zugrunde liegende Architektur auf Basis von Experten-Empfehlungen und Anforderungen der Anwender aus einer umfassenden Befragung von 272 Unternehmen beschreibt. Basierend auf den vorherigen und einer ahnlichen Studie prasentiert der Beitrag den ECET-Anforderungsrahmen als ein konzeptionelles Modell. Dieses Modell ist geeignet, Unternehmen zu helfen, sich auf relevante Themen zu konzentrieren, wenn sie mit der Realisierung oder Erweiterung eines EMIS konfrontiert sind.

Towards an Understanding of Digital Social Networks and Web 2.0 in Supply Chain Management

Value bundles as a customer-focused combination of physical products, services and intangible assets are getting important strategic offerings for companies. Offering value bundles requires a significant integration of customer processes in existing business processes on the company side and leads to complex interaction on the supplier side. The task for the seller to find the best suppliers appropriate for the offering is challenging. Regarding the intangible assets of hybrid bundles, there is a need for relevant information from the potential suppliers. Digital social networks like online communities, blogs or wikis might be a way to strengthen this coordination. Having this in mind, the question arises in which means digital social networks may affect procurement processes when dealing with value bundles. To answer this question, different kinds of digital social networks are investigated in terms of a literature review and evaluated by using a derived framework. The evaluation leads to recommendations how to use digital social networks for the enhancement of procurement processes for value bundles in a supply network.