S. Nazli Wasti, M. Kamil Kozan and Ayca Kuman
Using a baseline model of buyer‐supplier relationships, the study aims to identify the types of relationships in the Turkish automotive industry, and to test predictions as to how…
Abstract
Purpose
Using a baseline model of buyer‐supplier relationships, the study aims to identify the types of relationships in the Turkish automotive industry, and to test predictions as to how these relations would differ across contextual, managerial, and social climate variables.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaire data from 51 buyers in automaker firms and 72 supplier firms were subjected to K‐means cluster analyses to establish relationship groups in the two samples. Differences across the groups were tested using ANOVA and Scheffé tests.
Findings
Three relationship types (captive supplier, market exchange, and strategic partnership) were identified both in the buyer and supplier data. Significant differences were observed in terms of contextual (product and supplier characteristics), managerial (information exchange and cooperation), and social climate variables (mutual understanding, payoff equity, and satisfaction). Turkish buyers were found to strategically segment their suppliers based on product and supplier characteristics, whereas supplier groups were differentiated along social climate variables.
Research limitations/implications
The Turkish results differ somewhat from the ones for developed countries, which suggests that more work should be conducted in emerging economies. Future research that uses matched pairs of buyers and suppliers may provide in‐depth insights.
Practical implications
The results demonstrated a perception (hence, communication) gap between buyers and suppliers in how they differentiated relationship types. Strategic partnership led to cooperation in both samples, and to satisfaction, mutual understanding, and equity in the supplier sample.
Originality/value
This study used data from both parties, contrasted buyer‐supplier relationships in an emerging market with those in developed markets, and highlighted the effects of the industry's historical evolution on the present state of buyer‐supplier relationships.
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T.F. Burgess, H.K. Gules and M. Tekin
Competitive success is increasingly linked to implementing change in a co‐ordinated manner within the organization and in the extended value network that embeds the organization…
Abstract
Competitive success is increasingly linked to implementing change in a co‐ordinated manner within the organization and in the extended value network that embeds the organization. In particular, for manufacturers the successful implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) can be linked to collaborative buyer‐supplier relationships. Derives a model from the literature to link these aspects. Tests empirically major propositions from this model using data from 83 firms positioned at the top of the Turkish automotive industry supply chain. Establishes that companies with higher levels of AMT implementation collaborative more with their parts suppliers and companies are more successful in achieving their AMT implementation objectives if increased AMT implementation is coupled with more collaborate supplier relationships. Both AMT implementation levels and buyer‐supplier collaboration are shown to have significantly increased over a five‐year period. While AMT implementation levels of individual firms appear to have diverged, levels of buyer‐supplier collaboration appear to have converged during the five years.
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Rajesh K. Singh, Suresh K. Garg, S.G. Deshmukh and Mohendra Kumar
Globalisation of markets, the knowledge economy, e‐business and introduction of new technologies pose new challenges to all organizations irrespective of their size and sector for…
Abstract
Purpose
Globalisation of markets, the knowledge economy, e‐business and introduction of new technologies pose new challenges to all organizations irrespective of their size and sector for sustaining their competitiveness. In this scenario successful implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) by firms can give them an edge over their competitors. This paper aims to identify and develop the structural relationship among different factors for successful implementation of AMTs.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire‐based survey and interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been applied in this study. In this research, 14 factors have been identified such as top management commitment, organization culture, sound financial condition, training, integration of departments, etc. On the basis of survey results and opinion of experts from industry and academia, a structural relationship model has been developed through an ISM approach.
Findings
Top management commitment and sound financial condition are the major drivers for implementing AMTs. Effective implementation of AMTs will improve organization performance in terms of lead time, product cost, fast delivery and product quality. For effective implementation of AMTs, management should not ignore managerial aspects such as organization culture, employee training, integration of departments, vendor development, strategy development and customer involvement.
Originality/value
Management needs to address driving variables more carefully for successful implementation of AMTs.
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T.F. Burgess, H.K. Gules, J.N.D. Gupta and M. Tekin
The topic of competitive priorities has attracted many of those interested in manufacturing strategy and stimulated a number of surveys in manufacturing industry. Much of this…
Abstract
The topic of competitive priorities has attracted many of those interested in manufacturing strategy and stimulated a number of surveys in manufacturing industry. Much of this empirical work concentrates on large companies in industrialised economies while asserting the general applicability of findings. In contrast the survey reported here was conducted in a newly industrialising country, Turkey, focusing on small to medium‐sized manufacturing enterprises. Key personnel in 41 companies were questioned about the priorities of cost, quality, flexibility and, in particular, time. Process innovations, since these enable improvements in competitive priorities, were also examined. General similarities were evident between the Turkish, other European, and US situations. However, certain elements of quality and time were not ranked as highly in Turkey and the adoption levels of process innovations were lower. In contrast to US data, connections between competitiveness and time‐related performance measures were not apparent. Conclusions were drawn that Turkish manufacturing industry was generally at an earlier, quality‐dependent, stage in developing competitiveness and that time‐based competition was not yet evident.
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Jianlan Zhong, Han Cheng, Hamed Gholami, L. Thiruvarasu Letchumanan and Şura Toptancı
Knowledge management (KM) significantly affects supply chain management (SCM) and its performance in today's highly competitive corporate climate. It is crucial to consider this…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge management (KM) significantly affects supply chain management (SCM) and its performance in today's highly competitive corporate climate. It is crucial to consider this relationship to achieve optimal supply chain performance (SCP). This study aims to assess this impact by defining and examining the multi-dimensional relationships between KM Process Elements (KMPEs) and SCP Evaluation Criteria (SCPEC) within a comprehensive theoretical framework.
Design/methodology/approach
Integrating KMPEs and SCPEC becomes an uncertain decision-making problem due to data deficiency and the vagueness of decision-makers’ judgments. To address uncertainties, this study uses interval-valued neutrosophic (IVN) sets and proposes an IVN model consisting of SWARA, which is one of the effective multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches, and house of quality (HOQ) methods. IVN-SWARA is used to weight the SCPEC while IVN-HOQ establishes relationships and prioritizes the KMPEs and SCPEC.
Findings
The results show that reliability is the most significant SCP evaluation criterion. Among the KMPEs, capitalization, sharing, and transfer exhibit stronger associations with the SCPEC compared to the other elements. Capitalization as one of the KMPEs was found to be the most critical one, and efficiency is the criterion most affected by all elements of the KM process.
Originality/value
This study uses innovative methodologies to evaluate the adoption of KM processes on SCP under uncertain environments and involving multi-decision-makers. The proposed integrated model demonstrates flexibility and practicality in combining KM and SCM, leading to improved SCP. Notably, this study presents the development of IVN-SWARA and the use of the integrated IVN-SWARA - IVN-HOQ decision tool, which are novel contributions to the existing literature.
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A deteriorating security situation and an increased need for defence equipment calls for new forms of collaboration between Armed Forces and the defence industry. This paper aims…
Abstract
Purpose
A deteriorating security situation and an increased need for defence equipment calls for new forms of collaboration between Armed Forces and the defence industry. This paper aims to investigate the ways in which the accelerating demand for increased security of supply of equipment and supplies to the Armed Forces requires adaptability in the procurement process that is governed by laws on public procurement (PP).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a review of current literature as well as empirical data obtained through interviews with representatives from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and the Swedish defence industry.
Findings
Collaboration with the globalized defence industry requires new approaches, where the PP rules make procurement of a safe supply of defence equipment difficult.
Research limitations/implications
The study's empirical data and findings are based on the Swedish context. In order to draw more general conclusions in a defence context, the study should be expanded to cover more nations.
Practical implications
The findings will enable the defence industry and the procurement authorizations to better understand the requirements of Armed Forces, and how to cooperate under applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Originality/value
The paper extends the extant body of academic knowledge of the security of supply into the defence sector. It serves as a first step towards articulating a call for new approaches to collaboration in defence supply chains.
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Kamran Ali Chatha, Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja, Fatima Gillani and Sami Farooq
This paper aims to investigate the role of organizational and technological enablers and their arrangement and alignment with the external environment to facilitate supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the role of organizational and technological enablers and their arrangement and alignment with the external environment to facilitate supply chain integration (SCI), which consequently improves operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a structural equation modeling approach and the data from 307 manufacturing firms from the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey version VI for hypotheses testing.
Findings
The findings of the study reveal that (1) the alignment and particular arrangement of the sociotechnical organizational factors enable the SCI of a firm, (2) suitable organizational arrangements help in leveraging SCI under environmental pressures, and (3) SCI leverages the relationship between sociotechnical organizational factors and operational performance of the firm.
Practical implications
This paper informs managers that SCI leverages the operational performance of firms under heightened environmental pressures. Developing suitable manufacturing technologies infrastructure followed by organizational practices aligned with the manufacturing technologies make it easier to realize SCI.
Originality/value
This study explores the interaction of technological, organizational, and environmental factors as driving and enabling factors that help achieve SCI. Firms that develop an open and collaborative environment and use communication and integrative technologies to complement their work practices better cope with external pressures. These modern forms of working and the use of technologies facilitate SCI and leverage it effectively to positively impact firm performance.
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Ilker Murat Ar and Birdogan Baki
The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between seven antecedent factors (R&D strategy, top management support (TMS), customer focus (CF)…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between seven antecedent factors (R&D strategy, top management support (TMS), customer focus (CF), organizational learning capability (OLC), creative capability (CC), organizational collaboration (OC), and supplier relationship (SR)), two innovation types (product and process), and firm performance (FP).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper formulates 16 hypotheses from the literature review. These hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from 270 managers of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Turkish science and technology parks (STPs).
Findings
The findings indicate that both of product and process innovation have a strong and positive association with FP. While antecedents such as R&D strategy, TMS, CF, CC, and SR have significant impact on product innovation, other antecedents such as OLC and OC have a significant and positive impact on process innovation.
Practical implications
The results of this study could be used by any managers of SMEs located in STPs to improve successful innovation projects. The results also provide companies operating in Turkish STPs with useful information on how their policies and actions might affect firm innovation.
Originality/value
The paper provides a clarification of the reasons that may be behind a positive, a negative, or a non‐significant effect of the many antecedents on the product and process in SMEs located in Turkish STPs.
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Azmawani Abd Rahman and David Bennett
Developing countries are heavily dependent on the resources and commitment of foreign providers to ensure successful adoption of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). The…
Abstract
Purpose
Developing countries are heavily dependent on the resources and commitment of foreign providers to ensure successful adoption of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). The purpose of this paper is to describe the important role of buyer‐supplier relationships (BSRs) in the process of technology selection, acquisition and implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 147 Malaysian manufacturing firms is the main instrument used in the research investigations and data analysis is carried out by the structured equation modelling (SEM) technique. In particular, the authors examine the impact on performance of different patterns of relationship between technology buyers and suppliers.
Findings
Although the majority of the firms reported improvements in their performance since the acquisition of AMT, closer investigation reveals that those demonstrating a closer relationship with their suppliers are more likely to achieve higher levels of technology and implementation performance (IP) than those that do not.
Research limitations/implications
The paper only assesses the strength of BSR from the buyers' perspective and they may have limited experience of acquisition, whereas suppliers may have more experience of selling AMT. Also, the research is undertaken in Malaysia and the findings may be different in other countries, especially where the technology being acquired is not imported but sourced locally.
Practical implications
The findings relating to BSR, technology acquisition and IP have important implications both for customers and supplier firms as well as for industrial policy makers in developing countries.
Originality/value
The result of the research provides useful insights that are especially pertinent to an improved understanding of BSRs in the procurement of capital equipment, about which the current research literature is limited.
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Abhijeet Tewary and Vaishali Jadon
This research aims to analyze the literature on Quality 4.0 and pinpoint the essential factors contributing to its success. Additionally, the research aims to develop a framework…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to analyze the literature on Quality 4.0 and pinpoint the essential factors contributing to its success. Additionally, the research aims to develop a framework that can be used to create a capable workforce necessary for the successful implementation of Quality 4.0.
Design/methodology/approach
By following a systematic approach, the authors could ensure that their literature review was comprehensive and unbiased. Using a set of pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the authors screened 90 research articles to obtain the most relevant and reliable information for their study.
Findings
The authors' review identified essential findings, including the evolution of literature in the field of Quality 4.0 and the systematization of previous literature reviews focusing on training and development. The authors also identified several training barriers to implementing Quality 4.0 and proposed a model for building a competent workforce using Kolb's experiential learning model.
Practical implications
The authors' research offers insights into the training barriers that must be considered when building a competent workforce. Using the framework proposed in the authors' research, consultants and managers can better integrate Quality 4.0 into their organizations.
Social implications
The adoption of Quality 4.0 has significant social implications and is essential for advancing sustainability. It can improve efficiency, reduce waste, minimize environmental impacts and better meet the needs and expectations of stakeholders.
Originality/value
The authors' study stands out as one of the earliest reviews of the literature on Quality 4.0 to incorporate the theory-context-method (TCM) framework, allowing to provide unique insights into future research directions that had not been previously explored.