Xing Zhou and Holger Kohl
The purpose of this paper is to guide companies in conducting benchmarking studies of their manufacturing processes by viewing across industries, locations and products. In…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to guide companies in conducting benchmarking studies of their manufacturing processes by viewing across industries, locations and products. In particular, the proposed framework can help corporate decision makers in terms of production footprint and site location studies. The level of benchmarking performance can be measured by evaluating defined benchmarking evaluation profiles.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops a tool to operationalize value-added manufacturing processes for benchmarking evaluations. In this context, an object-oriented database structure has been developed for the business areas such as product development, manufacturing and assembly. This paper focuses on manufacturing processes. Furthermore, a framework for applying high-performance benchmarking has been developed and applied in a case study.
Findings
This paper shows that object class-oriented modeling approach can be applied to manufacturing processes. The higher the degree of independence in terms of locations, industry sectors and products, the more powerful thus a higher performance of benchmarking is achieved. The performance level of benchmarking has been defined by proving and demonstrating higher and lower performance levels. The high-performance benchmarking tool has been successfully applied to a production footprint case study.
Originality/value
This paper takes up the superiority of process benchmarking that has been the focus of numerous research papers on benchmarking techniques in the past. The potential of process benchmarking has been enhanced and operationalized as a tool. A classification logic for benchmarking evaluation profiles has been developed and integrated in the overall tool set. The model helps decision makers to configure their benchmarking studies tailored to their strategic entrepreneurial questions and to guide them to achieve a higher benchmarking performance level.
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Keywords
Lei Lei, Holger Kohl and Yanmei Xu
The purpose of this paper is to manifest how intellectual capital statement (ICS) adapts the Chinese management scenario. ICS has become a key management instrument for securing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to manifest how intellectual capital statement (ICS) adapts the Chinese management scenario. ICS has become a key management instrument for securing competitiveness and sustainable growth in European small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, if the approach rooted in Europe can have a good effect in China is still unknown.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper analyzes the reasons why ICS appears in Europe on a macro-level including innovation culture, innovation policy and innovation paths. These aspects are also characterized for China to describe the Chinese management scenario and innovation environment. Further, the paper divides ICS into three parts: model layer, indicators layer and operating layer on a micro-level. For the management scenario of China, it explains the adaptation of the three layers for application in a Chinese context.
Findings
The innovation culture, innovation policy and innovation paths are different in Europe and China. Therefore, the applications of model, indicator and operating layers of ICS are also different in China. The paper indicates that it needs some adjustments when applying ICS in Chinese enterprises.
Research limitations/implications
There are no application practices of ICS in China until now, so the analysis of this paper is based on the theoretical level. Moreover, in the part of innovation culture, the paper is limited to comparing the cultures of Germany and China.
Originality/value
This is the first paper which investigates the application of ICS in China.
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Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some…
Abstract
Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.