An Empirical Investigation of the Contribution of Strategic Sourcing to Manufacturing Flexibilities and Performance*

Empirical studies for achieving manufacturing flexibility goals have centered around the uses and advantages of advanced technology. Few studies have examined alternative ways of attaining flexibility objectives. Strategic sourcing finds mention in the literature as a potential route to manufacturing flexibility. However, little empirical evidence exists to validate this view. Literature also describes manufacturing flexibility as a multidimensional concept but fails to adequately examine the synergies among the different dimensions. This research investigates the influence of strategic sourcing and advanced manufacturing technologies on specific manufacturing flexibilities, and examines relationships among different flexibilities. The results are tied to manufacturing cost reduction. The findings suggest that strategic sourcing can assist in the achievement of modification flexibilities. Volume and modification flexibility are found to influence new product flexibility. Modification flexibility is found to influence manufacturing cost reduction. The results show that strategic sourcing can be used to target specific manufacturing flexibilities and that interflexibility synergies need to be considered while formulating flexibility-based manufacturing strategies.     

The role of risk preferences and flexibility for risk management: lessons from a custom manufacturing environment

In this paper, we study the management of financial risks of a custom manufacturer in the specialty chemicals industry arising from increased volatility of profits caused by market uncertainty and growing competitive pressure due to globalization. We argue that such risk management can be established either by creating and utilizing flexibility or by adjusting the risk preferences. Using a model-based approach, we operationalize flexibility and risk preferences to show their effects on the profit/risk and the decision making of a firm through a stylized example motivated by the specialty chemicals business.

Decision knowledge sharing: flexible supply chains in KM context

Supply chain excellence has a real impact on business strategy. Building supply chains as flexible systems represents one of the most exciting opportunities to create value and one of the most challenging tasks for the policy makers. It requires integrated decision making amongst autonomous chain partners with effective decision knowledge sharing between them. The key to success lies in knowing which decision has more impact on the overall performance and this can be achieved by appropriate knowledge sharing. In this context, knowledge management (KM) can be used as an effective approach to achieve knowledge sharing and decision synchronisation in supply chains. Flexible supply chains (FSC_s) are more complex and involve multiple autonomous players with varying technical cultures (affects knowledge mindsets), managerial background (affects decision knowledge) and supply chain management (SCM) exposures (affects knowledge sharing attitudes). Thus there is a need to develop demo models that can encourage chain managers towards collaborative knowledge sharing in the supply chains. This paper presents the application of one such model based on decision knowledge sharing (DKS) for improved supply chain management. A simulation model of a flexible supply chain based on DKS framework is developed for demo purposes. The key results are highlighted along with industry implications. The cost based performance of DKS at different levels of flexibility is studied. Thus a careful analysis of the chain with a focus on collaborative decisions is useful to ensure success. This paper addresses this interesting and challenging domain.     

上市公司战略选择弹性与业绩关系的实证研究

已有的研究认为,在动态的经营环境中,公司持有的备用资源能使该公司的未来战略选择弹性更大,从而可以提高其业绩。而业绩较差的公司持有的备用资源较少,其战略选择弹性也较小,因而会对这些公司的业绩造成负面影响。本文认为,对亏损①和非亏损公司而言,由于其持有的备用资源水平不同,战略选择弹性也会不同,进而会对其业绩造成不同的影响。基于这一观点,本文对我国亏损和非亏损上市公司备用资源与公司业绩之间的关系进行了实证研究,并得到了一些有意义的结论。     

Regularity of the Generalized Quadratic Production Model: A Counterexample

Recently there has been a growing tendency to impose curvature, but not monotonicity, on specifications of technology. But regularity requires satisfaction of both curvature and monotonicity conditions. Without both satisfied, the second order conditions for optimizing behavior fail and duality theory fails. When neither curvature nor monotonicity are imposed, estimated flexible specifications of technology are much more likely to violate curvature than monotonicity. Hence it has been argued that there is no need to impose or check for monotonicity, when curvature has been imposed globally. But imposition of curvature may induce violations of monotonicity that otherwise would not have occurred. We explore the regularity properties of our earlier results with a multiproduct financial technology specified to be generalized quadratic. In our earlier work, we used the usual approach and accepted the usual view. We now find that imposition of curvature globally and monotonicity locally does not assure monotonicity within the region of the data. Our purpose is to alert researchers to the kinds of problems that we encountered and which we believe are largely being overlooked in the production modelling literature, as we had been overlooking them.     

An investigation into a new class of vehicle routing problem with backhauls

A new version of the vehicle routing problem with backhauls is presented. In this new problem backhauls are not restricted to be visited once all linehaul customers have been served, neither are backhaul customers fully mixed with linehaul customers. In this problem the user based on his or her experience, the vehicle capacity, the type of products and the type of vehicle used, can define the position along a route from which the first backhaul customer may be visited. An insertion-type heuristic is put forward for this class of problems. An analysis of the improvement in route cost obtained by allowing a relaxation in the restriction of the mix of linehaul and backhaul customers is reported.     

Determination of the optimal number of kanbans and kanban allocation in a FMS: A simulationbased study

A simulation-based study is presented to compare the performance of a set of kanban allocation rules in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) operating in a pull mode. This paper also presents a simulation-based direct search approach to determine the optimal number of kanbans and their simultaneous allocation to different part types. This paper presents a realistic cost function that includes a penalty for failing to meet the demand on time, and a penalty for rescheduling delivery of materials from vendors. The model captures limited flexibility in the form of operational flexibility in a FMS. Future extensions to this study are discussed.     

An aggregate production planning framework for the evaluation of volume flexibility

Flexibility in manufacturing has been identified as one of the key factors to success in the marketplace. Many types of flexibility have been identified in the literature among which volume flexibility is one of the most important. Volume flexibility of a manufacturing system is defined as its ability to be operated profitably at different overall output levels. Volume flexibility permits a manufacturing system to adjust production upwards or downwards within wide limits. In this paper, we develop an aggregate production planning model for volumeflexible production systems. The model can be used with a Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the optimal level of investment in volume flexibility for a firm operating under a given set of market conditions. In addition, the model can be used to develop some conclusions about the relationship between the value of volume flexibility and the cost of holding inventory, the cost of shortage, forecast accuracy, and the length of the planning horizon.     

Flexibility and work-family balance: a win-win solution for companies? The case of Italy

Flexibility of working time is currently coming to the fore, with varying degrees of intensity, in European countries. After a brief analysis of flexibility (origin, characteristics, spread) in Europe, this paper will focus in particular on the Italian case by presenting a phenomenon attracting growing attention: ‘Smart Working.’ This is an innovative approach to work organisation that integrates and exceeds concepts such as teleworking and mobile working, thus questioning traditional constraints (such as physical space or work times and tools) and seeking new balances based on greater freedom for workers, as well as their empowerment. By taking advantage of two recent empirical investigations carried out in Italy (2011–2012) we could illustrates the relevance of S.W. in terms of both aspiration and practice, and its high incidence on core issues such as care, fertility rate, and the daily challenge of balancing family and work. In light of this, we tried to discover whether and under what conditions the introduction of different S.W. forms could be a win-win solution for companies and employees alike.     

先秦儒学克制道德相对主义的三个向度

道德相对主义对主流价值观念的挑战主要可以概括为三个方面:道德原则是否具有普遍必然性、理性能否认知道德原则、道德原则能否摆脱道德实践上的冲突.先秦儒学理清了作为普遍、必然的道德原则的仁与作为具体的行为规范的礼之间的紧张关系,从而澄清了道德相对主义因混淆两者而带来的混乱;先秦儒学并未像道德相对主义那样认为道德原则无法通过理性证明因而不存在,而是认为道德原则是明证的,其落实依旧需要理性的认知;在实践上先秦儒家主张行权返经,强调在道德原则统摄下所作的变通都是为了更好地实现仁道,从而有效避免了道德纷争.先秦儒学智慧对克服当代西方道德相对主义具有启发性意义.