Laura V. Lerman, Guilherme Brittes Benitez, Julian M. Müller, Paulo Renato de Sousa and Alejandro Germán Frank
While it is known that digital transformation facilitates data flow in supply chains, its importance on green supply chain management (GSCM) has not been investigated concisely…
Abstract
Purpose
While it is known that digital transformation facilitates data flow in supply chains, its importance on green supply chain management (GSCM) has not been investigated concisely. This paper aims to expand the theory of digital transformation in GSCM by investigating the interconnections between these concepts and providing an integrative view of a smart green supply chain management (Smart GSCM).
Design/methodology/approach
This adopts a configurational perspective on digital transformation and supply chain management (SCM) to investigate the different dimensions of Smart GSCM and their contribution to green performance. Therefore, this paper analyzes data from 473 manufacturing companies using regression techniques.
Findings
The results show how smart supply chain contributes to green performance through managing green relationships (external GSCM activities) and establishing green operations (internal GSCM activities). Furthermore, this paper finds partial mediating effects for external and internal GSCM activities on green performance. These findings show that smart supply chain (i.e. digital transformation strategy and front-end technologies, supported by several back-end technologies) is directly associated with higher levels of GSCM. It is specifically associated with one of the internal dimensions of green operations, namely, green purchasing activities. Hence, the findings suggest that digital transformation alone is insufficient to achieve green performance, needing a GSCM configuration to mediate this effect.
Practical implications
This study calls attention to how managers should integrate these at least three different perspectives of SCM: digital transformation, external relationships and internal operations to increase green performance.
Originality/value
As the main contribution, this study provides a configurational and holistic understanding of the different dimensions and mechanisms in Smart GSCM.
Details
Keywords
Alejandro Germán Frank, Guilherme Brittes Benitez, Mateus Ferreira Lima and João Augusto Bonzanini Bernardi
Open innovation breadth (OIB) considers the diversity of external collaboration partners for innovation. The authors investigate the moderating effect of OIB on the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
Open innovation breadth (OIB) considers the diversity of external collaboration partners for innovation. The authors investigate the moderating effect of OIB on the relationship between industrial innovation activities (innovation inputs) and industrial innovation results (innovation outputs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on secondary data from the Brazilian innovation survey, representing more than 30,000 innovative companies across 55 industrial sectors.
Findings
This study’s results show that OIB has different moderating effects regarding the several innovation input–output relationships. While OIB benefits some relationships, others are hampered by the diversity of collaboration partners.
Originality/value
Few studies have addressed OIB at the macro level. Using the perspective of transaction cost economics (TCE), the authors discuss the contributions and limitations of OIB at the industry level.
Details
Keywords
Giuliano Almeida Marodin, Guilherme Luz Tortorella, Alejandro Germán Frank and Moacir Godinho Filho
The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between the implementation of Lean shop floor (LSF) practices and Lean supply chain management, and their effect on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between the implementation of Lean shop floor (LSF) practices and Lean supply chain management, and their effect on quality and inventory turnover.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey-based research method was conducted and data were collected from 110 plants located in Brazil. The research constructs were validated through rigorous procedures (unidimensionality and discriminant validity and reliability) through confirmatory factor analysis and two hypotheses were tested using ordinary least square regression.
Findings
The results indicate that: Lean supplier relationship positively moderates the effect of LSF practices on inventory turnover; Lean customer relationship negatively moderates the effect of LSF practices on inventory turnover; and Lean supplier relationship positively moderates the effect of LSF practices on quality.
Originality/value
From a theoretical perspective, the results of this study provide evidences supporting the importance of understanding the systemic relationships between Lean implementation at the shop floor and the firm’s relationships with supply chain partners, that was not tested before. As managerial implications, the results suggest that managers should take a decision to foster a Lean supply chain management depending on which performance metrics they need to improve: quality or inventory turnover.
Details
Keywords
Laura V. Lerman, Guilherme B. Benitez, Julian M. Müller, Paulo Renato de Sousa and Alejandro Germán Frank
Supply chains are increasingly incorporating social perspectives into their activities. It is often argued that social initiatives in supply chain management (SCM) are a response…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chains are increasingly incorporating social perspectives into their activities. It is often argued that social initiatives in supply chain management (SCM) are a response to external pressures. However, it is still undetermined whether these initiatives can improve economic performance. Additionally, it is proposed that digital transformation in supply chains, also described as Smart Supply Chain, can support social performance. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the association between digital transformation, social performance in SCM and economic performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a survey of 473 companies in Brazil, a country where social needs create high pressures on companies to respond to the country’s challenges. The data collected underwent testing using ordinary least squares regression and bootstrapping techniques to examine the mediation effects between Smart Supply Chain, social performance and economic performance.
Findings
The findings indicate that digital transformation supports social performance. Additionally, adopting social initiatives helps to increase firm performance in the context of an emerging economy, while social initiatives mediate between digital transformation and firm performance.
Originality/value
This paper provides a new perspective on the social side of supply chains by demonstrating the close relationship between digital transformation and social engagement initiatives. It argues that aligning digital transformation strategies and technologies with social performance is crucial for companies to establish stronger connections with stakeholders.
Details
Keywords
Giuliano Almeida Marodin, Alejandro Germán Frank, Guilherme Luz Tortorella and Tarcisio Abreu Saurin
This paper aims to understand the patterns of lean production implementation, and the relationship between three context factors (i.e. firm size, positions within the supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the patterns of lean production implementation, and the relationship between three context factors (i.e. firm size, positions within the supply chain and time length of the lean initiative) and the adoption of lean production practices in firms of the automotive supply chain in Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data from 65 companies of the automotive supply chain in Brazil. For data analysis, first a cluster analysis was performed to identify common characteristics in the companies’ context factors when considering patterns of lean implementation. Then, multivariate analysis of variance was used to investigate the differences between the context factors and the degree of use of lean practices.
Findings
High lean adopters had better performance than low lean adopters in terms of lead time, inventory and turnover. Firms at the first and second tier of the automotive supply chain were “leaner” than firms at the third tier. Large-sized firms were more likely to have a higher degree of use of lean practices than medium and smaller ones. Some, but not all, lean practices followed these patterns. Results also showed that some lean practices were most commonly adopted at the beginning of the lean journey, whereas others took more time to mature.
Originality/value
This paper demonstrated how lean practices were implemented at different positions within the supply chain, and the patterns of implementation often followed. It also considers lean in the context of developing countries such as Brazil.
Details
Keywords
Valéry Merminod, Marie Anne Le Dain and Alejandro Germán Frank
This paper aims to propose that knowing in practice can be used as a mechanism to enhance social exchange in collaborative new product development (NPD) with suppliers to reduce…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose that knowing in practice can be used as a mechanism to enhance social exchange in collaborative new product development (NPD) with suppliers to reduce glitches. Practic00es of inter-organizational knowing should consider the levels of supplier involvement adopted.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper studies two opposite situations of supplier involvement in NPD projects, namely, white and black box configurations. This paper adopts a qualitative comparative analysis method to identify necessary and sufficient configurations of knowing in practice in 36 projects from 3 different companies.
Findings
Social exchange is important even when the NPD collaboration is based on contractual relationships as in white and grey box collaborations. There are different combinations of practices for inter-organizational knowing that can limit glitches in each supplier configuration. This paper proposes a theoretical model that explains these relationships and contributions to the reduction of glitches.
Originality/value
This paper combines social exchange theory with knowing in practice in the supplier involvement context. The theoretical model contributes to the understanding of knowing in practice in white and black box configurations.
Details
Keywords
Alejandro Germán Frank and José Luis Duarte Ribeiro
– This paper aims to present a model that maps the relationship between factors and process stages of the knowledge transfer (KT) between new product development (NPD) teams.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a model that maps the relationship between factors and process stages of the knowledge transfer (KT) between new product development (NPD) teams.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was constructed through a quantitative evaluation with scholars and practitioners of the NPD field. To evaluate the model and its usefulness, a practical application was carried out in two large Brazilian companies.
Findings
A relationship model between 16 main influence factors and 11 stages of the KT process was obtained. It could be seen through the practical applications that the model helps companies to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities in the KT between NPD teams.
Research limitations/implications
Prior studies had been concerned with the analysis of KT factors, but considering KT as an isolated act. So, this work has advanced in the deployment of the KT stages and the relationship of those with different influence factors.
Practical implications
This paper brings an important practical contribution, once several academic works have been concerned with to demonstrate relationships among factors, but few have shown how these results could help to solve practical issues observed in companies.
Originality/value
Results presented in this paper enable the extension of comprehension about the KT phenomena in the NPD process. Furthermore, this paper shows how the proposed model can be used as a decision tool to guide a diagnosis and detect improvement opportunities in KT between NPD teams.
Details
Keywords
Érico Marcon, Marlon Soliman, Wolfgang Gerstlberger and Alejandro G. Frank
As the level of implementation of Industry 4.0 increases, misalignments between adopted technologies and organizational factors may result in benefits below expected. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
As the level of implementation of Industry 4.0 increases, misalignments between adopted technologies and organizational factors may result in benefits below expected. This paper aims to analyze how organizational factors can contribute to a higher level of adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. The paper uses a sociotechnical perspective lens to achieve this aim.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 231 manufacturing companies in Denmark, a leading country in Industry 4.0 readiness, the paper analyzes through cluster analysis and logistic regression whether the development of four sociotechnical dimensions – that is, Social, Technical, Work Organization and Environmental factors – in these companies can benefit the achievement of higher levels of Industry 4.0 technology adoption.
Findings
The results show that companies focused on the development of sociotechnical aspects generally present higher Industry 4.0 adoption levels. However, some sociotechnical factors are less supportive than others.
Originality/value
Based on these results, practitioners can plan the adoption of advanced technologies, using a systemic organizational view. This study provides evidence on a growing field with few empirical studies available. The paper contributes by providing an analysis of a leading country in Industry 4.0 implementation, presenting a systemic view on technology adoption in the Industry 4.0 context.
Details
Keywords
Frank Franzak and Dennis Pitta
The purpose of this article is to provide an insight into the spice industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to provide an insight into the spice industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Uses Eastern Spice & Flavorings as a case study and focuses on its international product development group.
Findings
Despite the company's origins as a family‐owned small business, it competes in the global marketplace. To compete successfully, it must localize its blends. Until the company can establish new product development (NPD) centers in its major overseas markets, regional teams from Richmond that could travel to foreign markets to aid product development would be a solution to increasing sales.
Originality/value
Discusses Eastern Spice & Flavorings and its new product development.
Details
Keywords
Daisy Valle Enrique, Érico Marcon, Fernando Charrua-Santos and Alejandro G. Frank
This paper focuses on understanding the contribution of Industry 4.0 technologies to manufacturing flexibility.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper focuses on understanding the contribution of Industry 4.0 technologies to manufacturing flexibility.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple-case study was conducted through interviews and complementary data from 12 adopters of Industry 4.0 technologies from the industrial sector. To enable a broad perspective, cases from 5 industry sectors with different technological intensity levels were studied.
Findings
The findings show that Industry 4.0 technologies are mostly used to improve machine flexibility since there is a major focus on technological approaches rather than on wider flexibility. The results also showed that cloud services, IoT, and data analytics provide the basis for flexible operation, and collaborative robots, ERP/MES/PLM, AGVs, and traceability devices are the most commonly implemented technologies for flexibility. However, inherent contingency factors such as production complexity and product life cycle need to be considered.
Originality/value
This article expands the research on manufacturing flexibility, considering new capabilities introduced by Industry 4.0.