Rainer Lasch

Supplier selection and controlling using multivariate analysis

Purpose – An efficient supplier management is of central importance for successful supply chain management. It begins with the identification of potential suppliers and leads to the controlling of the supplier‐buyer‐connection. This paper aims to design a new supplier‐rating system that fits the practical needs of supplier rating and supports many other steps of the suppliers management process.Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study on supplier rating among 193 industrial companies revealed that the existing methods for supplier rating do not satisfy the needs in practice. This paper describes a multivariate analysis tool for managing a pool of engaged or future suppliers. A constructed ideal supplier serves as a reference to compare all suppliers by means of multivariate analysis methods. A case study illustrates the application of the tool.Findings – The empirical study found out new needs for supplier‐rating methods such as graphical representation of the suppliers. The designed supplier‐rati...

Supplier development with benchmarking as part of a comprehensive supplier risk management framework

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present and empirically support a theoretically sound, operational, and easy‐to‐implement supplier risk management framework that focuses on supplier development using a benchmarking approach.Design/methodology/approach – The paper develops a five stage framework for supplier risk management, entailing supplier risk identification, assessment of supplier risks, reporting and decision of supplier risks, supplier risk management responses, and supplier risk performance outcomes, that builds on the conceptual approach of Ritchie and Bridley and the approach of the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers (AIRMIC). The operation of the framework is illustrated in a single case study of a UK firm.Findings – The paper contributes to research in operations management and particularly in risk management in the specific field of supplier risk management. The study presents details of one of the later stages of the risk framework (i.e. management responses stage) and enhan...

Integrating three-dimensional sustainability in distribution centre selection: the process analysis method-based analytic network process

In this paper, we propose a combined methodology for the selection of distribution centres (DCs) by integrating and balancing economic, environmental and social sustainability aspects. The analytic network process (ANP) permits to systematically evaluate possible DCs on the basis of a situation-specific decision structure. A systematic development of the decision networks, which is one of the core challenges using the ANP, is supported by the process analysis method which we extend for that purpose. The validity and soundness of the proposed framework are demonstrated by means of a case study. The case study results reveal that omitting aspects of sustainability can lead to unfortunate results.

Integrating sustainability into strategic supplier portfolio selection

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive methodology and a problem-specific model for the configuration of the optimal strategic supplier portfolio in terms of traditional, performance-related objectives and sustainability targets. Design/methodology/approach – To bridge the research gap, i.e., to align strategic supplier portfolio selection with corporate sustainability targets, a hybrid model of the analytic network process (ANP) and goal programming (GP) is developed. To validate the model, a case example is presented and managerial feedback is collected. Findings – By enabling the integration of sustainability targets into strategic supplier portfolio configuration, the hybrid ANP-GP model contributes to research in the area of sustainable supply chain management. Results indicate that simplifying the model by omitting one or more details may lead to unfortunate actions. Research limitations/implications – The model has been applied using a case example in the automotive indus...

A decision-making framework for adoption of e-procurement

While the calculation of savings in staff time, possible with adoption of electronic procurement, may be relatively easy, the estimation of the overall business value of changes to procurement practice is difficult. In addition to internal process and staff issues that attend the introduction of any new information system, the management of supply chain relationships is important in procurement. The large number of factors involved in inter-organisational systems makes the adoption of e-procurement a complex decision. We present a generic framework for establishing the business case for a particular solution for a particular firm that blends and extends traditional marketing and information systems perspectives.

Recommendations for supplier innovation evaluation from literature and practice

Purpose – Companies have to assess the benefit of supplier innovation before realization. The specific situation of supplier innovation differs from conventional innovation evaluation because a supplier innovation refers to a subproduct for which the supplier is responsible. To date, supplier innovation evaluation has not been comprehensively discussed in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to focus on how supplier innovation should be evaluated. Design/methodology/approach – For this purpose, a case study based on expert interviews has been conducted to identify how supplier innovation is evaluated in practice. On the basis of the empirical findings the specific situation of supplier innovation is discussed in relation to theoretical basics about the object, objective, time, reference, person, recipient, criteria, and methods of evaluation as well as the evaluation and selection process. Findings – Results are recommendations for the special situation of supplier innovation evaluation...

Complexity drivers in manufacturing companies: a literature review

Increasing complexity in manufacturing companies has been one of the biggest issues during the last years. Companies in high-technology marketplaces are confronted with technology innovation, dynamic environmental conditions, changing customer requirements, globalization of markets and competitions as well as market uncertainty. Manufacturing companies can’t escape these trends, which induce an increasing amount of complexity. Reasons for this phenomenon are internal and external sources of complexity so-called complexity drivers. Identifying, analyzing and understanding complexity drivers are the first step for complexity management’s development and implementation. Complexity management is a strategic issue for companies to be competitive. The purpose of this literature review is to provide a general overview regarding complexity drivers in manufacturing companies. The different definitions of complexity drivers are described, and a new overall definition of complexity drivers is presented. Furthermore, the existing approaches for complexity driver’s identification, operationalization and visualization are identified and specified. For complexity driver’s clustering, a superior classification system was developed based upon existing classification systems in the literature. The literature review was done by systematically analyzing and collecting existing literature and reveals gaps according to methodology and issue. Existing literature reviews are only focused on specific issues, such as logistics or supply chain management, and do not point out the applied research methodology in detail. A general overview regarding complexity drivers in manufacturing companies and along the value chain does not exist yet.

Einfluss- und Erfolgsfaktoren auf den Ramp Up in der Halbleiterindustrie

Der zunehmend harter werdende Wettbewerb fordert von Unternehmen der High Tech Branche vor allem Innovationskraft und damit eng verbunden kurzere Markteinfuhrungszeiten. Unter diesem Zeitdruck wird der Serienanlauf, auch als Ramp Up bezeichnet, in seiner Funktion als Schnittstelle zwischen Entwicklung und Produktion zu einer bedeutenden Grose im Produktentstehungsprozess. Im Rahmen dieses Beitrages werden erstmals fur die Halbleiterindustrie Einfluss- und Erfolgsfaktoren des Ramp Up vorgestellt. Hierbei nimmt die Logistik aufgrund ihrer Querschnittsfunktion eine besondere Rolle ein.

Extended Model Formulation of the Facility Layout Problem with Aisle Structure

An efficient layout arrangement and its aisle structure are particularly important due to material handling costs, which directly affect product costs. Traditionally this is a procedure of sequential steps. In recent literature there exist a few approaches to handle layout arrangement and aisle structure simultaneously using heuristics. Only one approach could be found to solve it exactly, but with a lack of exactness due to its discrete representation. In this article, a mixed integer programing model (MIP) is proposed to achieve an arrangement of equipment with fixed shapes, input/output points, and aisle structure with predefined widths simultaneously and exactly. Furthermore, a continuous representation is considered. For that purpose the MIP model of Kim and Kim (2000) is modified to reduce computing time and is enhanced later on to consider aisles. The applicability is demonstrated by a small computational test.

Managing variability within wafertest production by combining lean and six sigma

Manufacturing organization in the manner of flow production is one of the best solutions to achieve short cycle times, low inventories and a high delivery reliability, which are vital for commercial success. Variability within all production, support and organizational processes is one of the main detractors for establishing a continuous material flow in semiconductor manufacturing. In this contribution an approach for identification, classification, observation, reduction, mastering and even elimination of variability is shown. This is done by combining elements as well as tools of lean manufacturing and six sigma. The approach is validated by a case study in a wafertest environment and enables establishing the Virtual Time based Flow Principle.