The aim of the mobile manufacturing concept is to provide solutions for mobile and flexible manufacturing capacity on demand. The idea with the concept is that a mobile manufacturing unit (MMU) could sent to the place where it is needed, either within the company, to a local supplier, to a customer, or to a partner, in order to, for example, cover a temporary volume peak.

Within the research project Factory-in-a-Box, five fully operative MMUs have been designed and realized in close contact with Swedish manufacturing industries. The main logistic focus within the research project has been put on optimizing the transport solutions, while the implications on the relations in the supply chain have still not been analyzed. It is however, important to clarify that the geographical and organizational distance between the stationary site and the site where the MMU temporarily is located, affects the complexity of the information and material flow. In order to secure MMU productivity, both information and material flow to and from the stationary factory, the stationary factory’s sub-suppliers, the local suppliers, and the customer, must be handled.

In order to use the MMU’s resources efficiently, the level of interaction with all these actors has to be selected wisely. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate the information flow and material flow in one of the demonstrators within the Factory-in-a-Box project, in order to highlight the importance of selecting appropriate level of interaction and how mobility affects the supply chain relations.

Syftet med detta papper är att undersöka hur graden av kundanpassning av ingående komponenter påverkar kostnad och ledtid. För att illustrera denna situation används ett exempel från hydraul pumptillverkaren Parker från när en ingående komponent ändrades från standard till kundunik utan att analysera hur detta påverkade ledtider och leveransförmåga. I pappret visar vi att KDI-metoden som simultant tar hänsyn till strategiska ledtider, grad av kundanpassning och kundorderns position ökar möjligheterna att ta väl underbyggda beslut, att undvika suboptimering och där igenom minska totalkostnaden.

The aim of this paper is to describe a conceptual alignment between the certainty-customization framework (Bäckstrand, 2012) and Kraljic’s purchasing matrix (Kraljic, 1983). This will enable companies that manufactures both standard and customer unique products to develop differentiated purchasing strategies for the constituent items based on the products competitive priorities and order winners. Through this distinction, different categories in the Kraljic-matrix needs to be handled differently based on the items position in regard to the customer-order-decoupling-point and its level of customization. 

Olika aspekter på samverkan har rönt stor uppmärksamhet under de senaste årtiondena men har endast i begränsad omfattning integrerats med centrala produktions- och logistikstrategiska beslutskategorier. Ett område som till stor del varit frånvarande i forskningen om kund/leverantörssamverkan är kopplingen till olika grader av kundorderstyrning. Sedan länge har graden av kundorderstyrning ansetts som ytterst central i utformningen av strategier för produktions- och logistiksystem men har trots detta sällan inkluderats i olika modeller för val av grad av samverkan mellan företag. Denna brist på samordning av två så viktiga kunskapsdomäner innebär att avgörande pusselbitar troligen saknas i kunskapen om hur konkurrenskraftig industriell verksamhet bedrivs i samverkan. Dessa två perspektiv har stor påverkan på utformning av både produkter och logistiksystem. Om man dessutom beaktar den snabba förändringstakten på dagens marknader och den dynamik som då skapas så finns det mycket starka motiv för att säkerställa att rätt grad av samverkan med andra parter i försörjningsnätverket etableras för att kunna hantera de osäkerheter som finns om marknadens behov.

Customization and customer-driven manufacturing are both explicitly based on end-customer relations and customer requirements. The impact of these aspects on internal operations is relatively well known and can be investigated using time phasing and decoupling points. These tools are however rarely used for analyzing purchased material. Based on the time phased product structure, items are categorized according to three criteria: driver, uniqueness, and make/buy. Purchased items can thus be identified using the last criteria and then driver and uniqueness are used as a point of departure for categorizing purchased material. The approach hence provides a platform for development of supplier relations based on the customer requirements which is the core theme of the method for customer-driven purchasing.

The study starting point has been to perform a system audit of a new factory that manufactures and sells a specific product. The audit work has been carried out to identify a current situation for the business that the company's bedding today and then compare the current situation with the requirements and recommendations that are specified in the standard ISO 9001: 2015. The factory belongs to a larger global group which today is ISO 9001: 2015 certified, although the new factory has not yet been updated to ISO 9001: 2015 standard.

The method used in the audit work was developed with the help of supervisors from the university and the company, including Peter Landin, CEO of the certification company Qvalify. It was considered critical to obtain external input on how audit work is shaped and performed as it became easier and clearer which indicators an auditor is looking for when reviewing companies.

In order to identify deviations and opportunities for improvement, the current situation was mapped through all interviews with management groups and production technicians to get an overall picture of what the leadership looked like and how processes are governed. To help, an audit checklist was used throughout the work to further understand the standards requirements picture.

This resulted in proposals for measures and a list of priorities on the deviations and opportunities for improvement identified. A total of 26 deviations from the standard could be identified. These included, among other things, chapters within the standard such as continuous improvement, quality policy and communication. Seven proposals for measures were presented to the company through a priority list to make it easier to get started with the improvement work.

Purpose: On-time delivery is a concept that refers to the ability to deliver at agreed time. Several studies has shown that on-time delivery to customers is one of the most important competitive tools used by manufacturing enterprises. Internal on-time delivery is the ability to deliver between and within a company’s different sections at the right moment but is however a concept that is seldom being mentioned in research studies. The internal on-time delivery affects the external and is therefore an interesting subject to study. The purpose of this study is to increase the knowledge of how internal on-time delivery in make-to-order environments can be improved. Two research questions have been answered in order to fulfill the purpose:

1.      Which causes may affect the internal on-time delivery in make-to-order environments?

2.      How can the internal on-time delivery increase in make-to-order environments?

Methodology: A study with a qualitative approach has been used to fulfill the purpose and to answer the research questions. Common theories has been used in order to achieve a necessary knowledge about the subject. Theories about different tools for improvement has been used to answer the second question. Empirical data has been collected through a single case study in a manufacturing cell. The case study consisted of observations, interviews and a time study. The empirical data that has been collected describes the surveyed manufacturing cell, its product and its process.

Results: The first question has been answered with the use of collected empirical data and common theories. The found causes that affect the internal on-time delivery in make-to-order environments are: Enterprise resource planning systems does not portray real conditions, Priority control of manufacturing sequences is not being followed, Temporary bottlenecks occurs depending on mixed order entries, Cell layout can limit the control of the flow.

These causes has together with theories about different tools for improvement been used to answer the second question. Eight different types of improvements has been mentioned in the case. A few of these methods are: Enterprise resource planning should portray real conditions, The priority control of the manufacturing sequence should be followed, Resources capacity may need to be increased.

Discussion: It would be interesting if further research studies was made to gain more knowledge about causes that may affect the on-time delivery in make-to-order environments. It may be possible for manufacturing enterprises to use this studies structure to improve their own internal on-time delivery in make-to-order environments.

This thesis has been carried out in cooperation with System Andersson that develops, manufactures and installs engineering system. This is a proposal on how a system can be designed because the market has become more demanding.

This thesis subject is to come with ideas on how a system might look like. As a starting point, a number of questions were made. For example, what happens if the capacity or planning does not agree with the plane, and how does a planner’s normal day look like.

To carry out the work the authors have used the literature review based on previous literature in their program, interviews of personnel at System Andersson and own ideas.

System Anderssons customers are mainly small and medium-sized, Swedish manufacturing companies. The most common is that the customers work in a job shop and manufacturing that order. In this segment, that System Andersson will continue to work in, it is important to the engineering system can change the operation sequence and optimize the capacity utilization of machinery and personnel. For the product to be competitive, it must also be designed for the people who use the program.

Some of the results consist of two versions of the coating module,

What is new in this proposal to the version they are selling today are: more features, daily planning, capacity planning and graphic. The authors have come up with ideas in the program on how this should be soluble.

The program is from the scheduler point of view to help with the daily work and solve the problems before they arise or be more flexible to manage. From System Anderssons point of view, this could be used in marketing and promoting their programming when they talk with customers.

Light, and Advanced. The first is targeted to small businesses and therefore contains only the most important functions for the coating design; the remainder is as scaled as possible. The latter version, Advanced, is adapted to the somewhat larger firms and can therefore perform a wider range of tasks. It should be suitable for a full-time planner with all that that implies. In addition to these two versions the authors have designed a time clock and a dispatch list to create a better overall picture of occupancy planning. The time clock is used to collect information on available staff capacity and dispatch list to communicate to the manufacturing and update the available machine capacity. The authors' focus has been to draw up the overall sketches and not the program behind.

Isaberg Rapid AB is a company that manufactures for instance staplers and glue guns. Headquarters and main factory is located in Hestra but there are also subsidiary companies in Denmark, Netherlands, France, Spain, China and England. There are also two filial factories in France and China.

Today has the company no logistic guidelines committed and that leads to problems since the salesmen promise different things to the customers. This contributes too many different logistic solutions for Isaberg Rapid AB. The company has also noted problems with returns of goods.

The purpose with this task is to standardize and compile logistic guidelines, usable to all Isaberg Rapid AB's small to midsize customers. The aim is to increase the flow of information and reach a more standardized way to work than previously within the company and between the company and their customers. The task also includes development of a functioning system of returns usable to all customers.

Choice of methods has changed from literature studies to focus on interviews and document collections at the company. A large part of the implementation is comprised of interviews. This because the task were directed to Isaberg Rapid AB and it were therefore difficult to find any appropriate theory. Some visits, both in Hestra and Saint Amé, have been made. In development of the logistic guidelines have two other logistic guidelines from the company's customers been studied.

In the result part is the compiling of the logistic guidelines presented. The logistic guidelines are based on the collected documents from the company but also include parts from interviews and the studied logistic guidelines. This document should work as a tool for customers and concerned people at Isaberg Rapid AB. It contains important information before, during and after ordering. There are two versions of this document, one for the customer and one to use internally with extra comments.

In the end of the report there are some discussions about the difficulties that have been discovered. Finally, the questions given in the problem description will be answered in the conclusions.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate how quality is being affected by service purchasing and service in-house within the care and welfare sector to achieve high cost-effectiveness. The research questions stated below will be answered in the study to fulfill the purpose:

-          What benefits and risks regarding quality can be identified in case of service purchasing and service in-house within the care and welfare sector?

-          Is service purchasing or service in-house the most cost-effectiveness choice for the care and welfare sector?

Method - To answer the research questions and thereby fulfill the purpose of the study a theoretical framework was created by literature review and a case study conducted at the Social Services in Nässjö. Empirical data was collected by interviews, questionnaires and document studies and then analyzed with the theoretical framework which generated the study’s result.

Findings - The study’s findings showed that purchased service generated more benefits in terms of quality compared to service in-house and therefore represented a less risky alternative. Purchased service also created higher quality at a lower cost which meant it was the most cost-effective choice as the cost per quality effect was lower.

Recommendation – The care and welfare sector is recommended to look at the possibility of buying services instead of performing services in-house, in particular technical services that do not belong to the core operations.

Limitations - The calculation of cost-effectiveness in the study was limited by the fact that all costs for the investigated service not were able to identify, which meant that cost-effectiveness was only calculated based on personnel and service costs. The study is based only at one case company which may restrict the generalization of other organizations in the sector of care and welfare.

Keywords - Service purchasing, service in-house, quality, cost, cost-effectiveness, care and welfare sector.

Purpose – The study aims to map how the position of the order penetration point is related to companies’ choice to handle stochastic variations in capacity requirements through the use of safety capacity buffers. Hence, the research questions are:

1. Which are the main safety capacity buffers used to handle stochastic variations in capacity requirements?

2. How is the position of the order penetration point related to the choice of safety capacity buffers to handle stochastic variations?

Method – A case study has been conducted in order to answer the research questions and thus includes a literature study, interviews and document studies. The interviews were conducted with seven respondents from six companies and the empirical data that emerged from the interviews and document studies were analysed together with theory from the literature study to reach the result of the study.

Findings – The study has identified ten approaches to handle stochastic variations, two of which was not previously mentioned in the theoretical framework. The ten approaches have then been categorized into six safety capacity buffers based on similarities.

After identifying the position of the order penetration point possible connections between the position of the order penetration point and choice of safety capacity buffers have been analysed to explore possible relationships. Three tendencies to connections have been identified but further studies are required to ensure the connections.

Implications – The research area of handling variations in capacity requirements with a division in one capacity buffer and one safety capacity buffer is relatively unexplored. Exploring possible connections between the choice of safety capacity buffers and the position of the order penetration point could fill a gap of knowledge and theoretically contribute to further research within the area of safety capacity buffers. Learning of others’ experiences gives an increased understanding which can help companies to make more informed decisions that can lead to better performance, which is the practical contribution of the study.

Limitations – The studies limitations lies in that only seven respondents from six companies were included in the study, were only one interview was conducted with each respondent. The number of used approaches and their connections to the order penetrations point could have been strengthened in case an increased number of respondents from different kind of companies had participated in the study. Thereby the connections’ generalizability could have been strengthened. Additionally more approaches probably would have been identified in case a greater width had been studied.

In the study the total capacity have been handled as two separated parts to handle expected and unexpected requirements. The approach is relatively new and not established which can complicate and limit the ability for companies to apply the results.

Scientists are required to disseminate the results of research to the society and companies participating in research projects. The dissemination procedure normally consists of seminars, scientific and layman journal contributions, and conferences that generally are not flexible and timely enought to capture industrial needs. In an effort to accelerate knowledge transfer and technology implementation to sustain and improve competitiveness, Jönköping University has developed a one-year online master programme in cast metals and processes in collaboration with the industry. The collaboration includes development of the curriculum, case studies, lectures and study visits. To explore the development process, we performed interviews and a survey with participating students/professionals, teachers and industrial partners. Our results show that a profound two-way knowledge transfer took place, and that course content and teaching were highly relevant to the industry. Furthermore, industry and academia engaged in new joint research collaborations. Consequently, we hypothesize that the procedure for structured knowledge transfer can be implemented in materials education at advanced level to foster engagement between university, industry and society.

Aero Materiel är ett grossistföretag beläget i Jönköping med inriktning på låselement och har 20 anställda. Syftet med examensarbetet var att beskriva och förbättra processerna på Aero Materiel.

En benchmarking genomfördes på barnkliniken på länssjukhuset i Jönköping som 2009 fick utmärkelse Svensk Kvalitet. För mer underlag till analysen har även en litteraturstudie gjorts där flera olika teorier om processorientering har studerats.

Problemen vi identifierade var att företaget hade för många processer och de var inte strukturerade att dra nytta av processorienteringsfördelar. Aero Materiel har tio huvudprocesser definierade där endast ett fåtal är kundorienterade. Processerna är även uppdelade efter respektive avdelning och inte en enda går igenom två eller fler avdelningar.

Vår slutsats är att företaget bör ha två huvudprocesser för att göra det mer hanterbart. Dessa är ”leverans av standardkomponenter” och ”leverans av anpassade komponenter”. De nya huvudprocesserna går rakt igenom organisationen och följer flödet mer naturligt. Vi rekommenderar att företaget utser processägare för respektive huvudprocess. Om Aero Materiel genomför våra rekommendationer tror vi att företaget blir mer processorienterat, vilket i sin tur gör företaget bättre förberett för fortsatt tillväxt och ökad förmåga att höja kvaliteten och minska kostnader.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of how the

supply strategy of a manufacturing business can be affected by some competitive

factors and the suppliers’ geographical location. In order to fulfill the purpose of this

study the following three questions were formulated:

1. How do the competitive factors: cost, quality, flexibility, delivery time and

reliability get affected by the suppliers’ geographical placements?

2. How do the competitive factors cost, quality, flexibility, delivery time and

reliability affect the design of an organization’s supply strategy?

Method – To fulfill the purpose, a literature study were conducted combined with a

case study. The literature study was focused on how different competitive factors can

be affected by a company supplier’s geographical location. The impact of how this

can affect a business supply strategy was also investigated. The empirical study was

based on document studies along with interviews conducted at the case company. The

theoretical framework has been analysed against the empirical study.

Findings – The competitive factors can be affected in different ways, depending on

where the supplier is located, both in relation to the company but also depending on

which geographic continent they are based on. Finally, company’s supply strategy is

affected in a large extent by how they choose to prioritize their competitive factors.

Implications – Theories and methods that are suggested to achieve an effective

supply strategy are implementable on companies who use a multiple number of

suppliers. To implement the result of this study, it is required that the company has a

clear picture of which competitive factors that has the highest priority. It is required a

profound knowledge of supply and supply strategies and further studies since the

conditions can be different for every company.

Limitations – This study has been conducted with help from a case company, whose

production is located in Malaysia and head office in Kista, Sweden. Because of the

long geographical distance, the communications has been limited which hampered the

conducting of the study.

This paper reports results of an investigation conducted to explore the status of Mass Customization in the mobile telephone industry and its implications for assembly operations. The study focused on the manufacture of two representative mobile telephone models at Sweden's Ericsson. The findings include the level of variety and customization in each model, where in the value chain this differentiation was implemented, and how it was conceptually, methodologically and technologically enabled. The analysis, aided by several frameworks from the literature, points to a changing role for assembly in this industry, and suggests research direction to meet future customized manufacturing challenges.

This paper reports results of an investigation conducted to explore the status of Mass Customization in the mobile telephone industry and its implications for assembly operations. The study focused on the manufacture of two representative mobile telephone models at Sweden's Ericsson. The findings include the level of variety and customization in each model, where in the value chain this differentiation was implemented, and how it was conceptually, methodologically and technologically enabled. The analysis, aided by several frameworks from the literature, points to a changing role for assembly in this industry, and suggests research direction to meet future customized manufacturing challenges.

Having an efficient production is vital for companies that are facing highly demanding customers along with tough competition. In addition, the production layout has a significant impact on the production efficiency hence it the choice of production layout is an important question to consider. A common production layout is the assembly line whereas companies with products that are not adequate for assembly line production; are seeing advantages of working with assembly lines. An example is the modular house manufacturing industry. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate how an assembly line for modular house manufacturing and the related material supply may be designed in order to increase the overall efficiency of the manufacturing process. A single case study has been conducted at Zenergy AB, Skillingaryd. Empirical data has been collected through various sources; interviews, observations and document studies. In addition, a literature review has been conducted. The theoretical framework and empirical data has been established by the means of pattern matching and further on data analysis was done thus the results of the study were acquired. To conclude, it is shown in the results that implementation of an assembly line for modular house manufacturing can be beneficial despite the fact that its products are not adequate for assembly line production. Further on, there are three main critical factors to consider during the assembly line design process for modular house manufacturing. The critical factors are; line balancing, dry time and bulky materials. The critical factors will in turn have a significant impact on the choice of the assembly line production layout and the related material supply.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to conduct a survey of the Process of Drug Management in elderly care from when a drug is prescribed to when it is discarded. The purpose also includes to investigate how the various activities are linked to each other and to identify errors for the patient safety. In order to fulfil the purpose, two issues have been formulated: 1. What activities are currently in the Process of Drug Management in elderly care? 2. What deviations can occur in the Process of Drug Management and can be errors for the patient safety? Method In order to fulfil the purpose, a case study was made on the Social Service of the elderly care. Empirical data has been collected through interviews, observations and questionnaires. Further on the empirical data has been analysed and compared with the theoretical framework in order to achieve the purpose of the study. Findings The five main activities which have been identified in the Process of Drug Management are Prescription, Requisition and Check, Storage, Readying and Administration and finally Follow-up. In order to identify errors for the patient safety in the different activities, a value stream map has been designed where the risk has been placed and later on discussed. Errors for the patient safety exist among other factors such as due to lack in communication and information, human factors such as stress, lack of sleep, cultural shocks and lack of motivation for work. The study also shows that there is lack of responsibility among the various operators in the process. Implications The process of drug management in elderly care is a problem area because of its complexity where deviations often occur which results in errors for the patient safety. The guidelines within elderly care are about the same throughout Sweden, which leads to the fact that development in order to prevent errors of the patient safety can take place within other organizations. Deviations are unfortunately making an impact in the first activity, “Prescription”, which contributes to additional deviations in the following activities. In order to improve the patient safety, developing the quality within the organization and within the Process of Drug Management should be a priority. Limitations The aim of the study was to gain a deeper insight into the process of Drug Management and identify errors for the patient safety. Wishful thinking is to investigate several more units in order to get a clearer picture of the problem area from different angles.

Inköpsavdelningen är en viktig del i företag som ansvarar för att artiklar finns tillgängliga när de behövs. Inköps uppgift är att köpa rätt kvantitet av rätt kvalitet i rätt tidpunkt från rätt leverantör till rätt pris. Detta arbete kan underlättas om tydliga riktlinjer för hur inköpsarbete bör bedrivas finns.

Swisslog-Accalon AB i Boxholm vill omarbeta sina inköps- och materialplaneringsrutiner, då många av de inköp som görs baseras på inköparens erfarenhet och kunskap om artiklarna samt att många inköp görs mot specifika kranprojekt. Detta har lett till att artiklar i många fall köps utan hänsyn tagen till de mest ekonomiska aspekterna då vanligtvis inga partiformningsmetoder används.

Syftet med examensarbetet är att skapa ett ramverk för inköp av standardartiklar till företagets kranproduktion, för att inköpsarbetet på företaget ska underlättas och minskas. För att uppfylla syftet med examensarbetet har fyra frågor arbetats fram:

1. Hur ska standardartiklarna i kranproduktionen klassificeras?
2. Vad ska ingå i de olika emballagekategorierna?
3. Vilka är de ekonomiska behovstäckningstiderna för standardartiklarna i kranproduktionen?
4. Hur ska ramverket användas?

Relevant empiri har samlats in med metoder som intervjuer och observationer samt att tillgång till nödvändiga dokument och arkivmaterial har erhållits. Empirin som samlats in har analyserats med litteratur inom det aktuella området.

Resultatet av examensarbetet är ett framarbetat ramverk som beskriver hur inköpsarbetet av företagets standardartiklar till kranproduktion rekommenderas att bedrivas. Dessutom kommer ramverket att underlätta och minska inköpsarbetet, då företaget rekommenderas att styra vissa av artiklarna med enkla och tidseffektiva metoder.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to develop a tool that can optimize the shop floor area needed to manage the storage and sequencing of a given number of articles. Hereby, the first research question that will be answered is “What factors need to be considered when optimizing the floorspace and sequencing of automotive components in a mixed-model line?”, while the second is “How can these factors be modeled through Discrete Event Simulation andGenetic Algorithms?”.

Method: The method of this study is built on Discrete Event Simulation (DES) modeling, and the experiments are based on Design of Experiments (DOE) with a full factorial design consisting of five factors at two levels. These factors are then analyzed using variance analysis(ANOVA) and implored to create an optimization approach for sequencing layouts.

Findings: The findings exhibit the effects and significance of each of the explored factors that were inferred through the ANOVA analysis for the response variables. The number of AGVs, the number of handover positions, and the number of floor positions can be considered significant according to the model. It also presents an optimization approach based on genetic algorithms, taking into account the various constraints.

Delimitations: The study primarily concentrates on the sequencing of mixed-model assembly lines within the automotive industry, with other industries excluded from its scope. Moreover, the research specifically targets the sequencing area, simplifying the complex dynamics of the high storage area within the assembly plant.

This report is the result of a master thesis with a focus on risk analysis of production location decisions. The project is a part of “PROLOC-manufacturing footprint during the product’s life cycle”. The main aim of this thesis is to point out how current applicable risk analysis techniques evaluate the risks involved in production location decisions and then underline the most important risks involved in production location decisions and elicit strengths and weaknesses of these methods.A systematic review of literature with a focus on journal papers of risk analysis and production fields is conducted by using the content analysis and coding technique. The current risk analysis techniques identified are failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), life cycle cost (LCC) analysis, and system based techniques like multiobjective analysis, decision tree analysis, and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In addition two identified frameworks of foreign direct investment (FDI) and international production are the research fields that have contributed extensively in identifying various risks of production location decisions.Having reviewed the literature, it is realized that majority of companies take a short sighted vision in choosing production location and consider just cost based issues like cheaper raw material and low labour cost in some countries and simply ignore uncertainties that can be sources of political, economic, social, competitive, and seismic risks. Low cost countries are usually situated in politically instable areas that can cause long production halts or expropriation. Political risk is mainly identified in FDI literature and is usually triggered by a political turmoil, coup d’état, or revolution. On the other hand cheap labour does not necessarily mean decrease in costs and might bring about quality issues and damage company prestige among customers which results in time and monetary loss. Currency exchange and inflation in costs often causes the initial forecast and cost analysis go wrong. Supply risks are because of disruption of ties with raw material or part suppliers in home country and might result in risk of misuse by new suppliers or partners. Also the seismic risk is introduced as a separate category of risks of production location decisions which can be considered a matter of more investigation and requires further research.The study also presents a review of strengths and weaknesses of existing risk analysis techniques of production location decisions. The lack of consistency, vagueness of information, unfamiliarity with design to cost concept are among the major weaknesses of risk analysis techniques of production location decisions. The study concludes with the fact that just considering the cost oriented factors like cheap labour and raw material by production companies exposed them to various risk and might make the whole investment in vain. Suggestions for further study on techniques and risks of production location decisions are also proposed.

Material supply systems have for a long time been regarded as an important function with strong potential to increase the performance of companies in different industries. Consequently, substantial research has been conducted in the field. However, in the pharmaceutical industry within research and development plants, material supply systems have historically not been a prioritized function. Therefore, there is a research gap regarding material supply systems in that peculiar context. This study aims to fill that gap by investigating how a material supply system could be designed and which factors are critical to achieve a cost-efficient service level within a research and development plant in the pharmaceutical industry. To do so, a single case study has been conducted at a Swedish pharmaceutical company’s research and development plant. An abductive approach has been applied to both test if the general design principles developed in other industries and business functions can be applied to this context. Further, context specific factors affecting the material supply system design needed to be identified and investigated to adapt the general design principles to the specific context by generalizing data. The empirical data was collected by utilizing focus groups, interviews, observations and documents. The findings yielded that there is a substantial potential for improvement of material supply systems within the context of this study. The existing decentralized inventory structure at the case company was a particularly vital aspect that hindered the system from operating cost-efficiently in relation to the service level and a centralization is crucial to improve. Further, calibration and a general decrease of safety stocks, order points and order quantities is essential to uphold a consistent service level at a justifiable cost at the case company. The general design principles and formulas retrieved from the theoretical framework was partly applicable in the context of this study but needed some adjustments. Especially the low volume articles with high variety in consumption rate was not suitable to be managed by the existing methods and needed another approach. Further, the context establishes high requirements on system dynamics, it comes with boundaries due to laws regulating the industry, and companies in the context generally need to be better at aligning their design factors to the purpose. The result of this study adds valuable content to the research field and fills the gap for material supply systems in the context of research and development plants in the pharmaceutical industry. Further studies are needed in this field to investigate how articles with low and varying demands can be managed within material supply systems cost-efficiently and with high service levels.

Purpose - The purpose of this thesis is to identify factors that have an impact on supermarket inventory levels that supply a manufacturing line and investigate how the impact of these factors can be controlled. In order to fulfill the purpose it was broken down into two research questions.

1. What factors have an impact on supermarket inventory levels supplying a manufacturing line?
2. 2.      How can the impact of these factors be controlled?

Method - To answer the research questions a literature study and a case study were conducted. The empirical findings from the case study and the literature study were used to find the answer to the first research question. The identified factors in the first research question were then analysed with the theoretical framework in order to answer the second research question. Different techniques have been used in order to collect necessary data including documentation studies, interviews, observations and basic training in the case company’s procurement system (GILM).

Findings - Total safety lead time, firm time and shortage impact were discovered during the case study. These factors were not to found during the literature study because they were specific parameters that are predetermined in the case company’s procurement system. Internal material handling and supermarket order quantity were factors also found during the case study. The identified factors are divided after which tool or method that can be used to gain control over the factor. Four different tools have been identified as solutions to gain control over the internal material handling. The factors that only have one identified tool as a solution are either case specific or not attentive in the theoretical framework as the other tools.

Implications - The identified factors from the literature study are considered as common factors that can be applied for companies that have a supermarket inventory. If manufacturing companies are facing problems with their supermarket inventory levels they can increase control by investigating the tools and methods presented in this thesis. Contributions - The factors that were identified during the case study have contributed with new discoveries in the field of study, since there is limited research done in this subject regarding supermarket systems.

Research limitations - More case studies could have been performed at similar companies, in order to investigate how generalizable the answers to both research questions are.

This thesis has been done on a haulage contractor company named GP-Last (AB Gustav Perssons Åkeri) and the purpose with the paper was to analyse their traffic from Malmö to Stockholm and leave suggestions on efforts that GP-Last can use to increase their level of transportation quality. This has been done with two main questions, which problem do they have today and which efforts they need to do to solve their problems? Through a case study with interviews as method to collect data it showed that GP-Last had four main problems.

        Not enough information about their freights. The transport planning unit in Malmö doesn’t have the exact delivery address when GP-Last begins to bring in the gods.

        There are no clear routes. The transport planning unit in Malmö doesn’t know how the staffs in Bromma want the trucks to be loaded.

        Inadequate communication between the two sites in Malmö and Bromma. The staffs in Malmö don’t get informed about their mistakes when they load the trucks wrong which results in that the same mistakes are being repeated.

        Lack of attention about how many mistakes that are made. GP-Last have no information about how many mistakes that is being made and how long time it takes to fix the mistakes.    

The efforts that GP-Last has to make to solve these problem is first to inform Schenker, the company that receives the booking of the freights, about the importance of information about the freights that the unit of transport planning needs. A route list was made in consultation with staff in Bromma that’s going to help the transport planning unit in Malmö. By adopting deviation report when a truck isn’t correctly loaded leads to better communication between the to sites and GP-Last gets good information about how many mistakes that are being made and how long time it takes to fix them.

It is important for small and medium-sized corporations to collaborate in networks in order to develop capacity, capability, and competence to perform product development and become suppliers of complete systems. The purpose of this study is to identify barriers and to develop an analytical framework of inter-organizational collaboration in network settings. In this paper we present a tentative four-dimensional framework in terms of surface of integration, scope of integration, time horizon of integration, and intensity of integration. This framework can be used to analyze how network settings are developed, in terms of structural design of the network, the design of the workflow in collaborative settings, and the aspects of handling the psychological and social boundaries between people.

In order to handle increased competition small and medium sized companies are collaborating in networks, strategic alliance, or partnership etc. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how direction and accountability is handled in network settings. The authors have performed an extensive case study of one collocated network consisting of four independent companies. This networking has enabled the companies to accept larger customer orders than no single company could handle on their own. It has also made them capable of reaching a high level of adaptation to customer demands regarding development, manufacturing, delivery, and support of the complete product. The high level of inter-company integration has created conditions for the network to develop self-organizing characteristics in terms of autopoietic and sympoietic systems. While the first focuses on the relations between companies within the network, the second focuses on relations between the network and the environment. This self-organizing approach is based on strategic conversation between companies at all organizational levels and participation of managers as well as engineers in the design of inter-and intra-organizational structures and processes. In self-organizing systems direction comes from closeness to customers and strategic dialogue between management and engineers and accountability is a consequence of high level of situational visibility and information exchange on all hierarchical levels among companies in this network.

Automotive industry faces two major problems. One is to develop standard platforms to reach high volumes and low cost. The other is to use platforms for enabling variation of models that suit customer needs, local market demands, and restrictions. Platform thinking embraces several industrial levels, systems integrators, global and local suppliers, and markets. How can the dualism between standardization of components and model variation be managed and which trade-offs need to be made?

In this paper we have identified and analyzed different approaches to platform concept from technical as well as organizational, production, and product development perspectives. Platform technology improves flexibility in production and product development. However, when radical changes are made, new design of platform is not easily made, i.e. propagation of requirements and changes in models vs. platforms. When this happens, several production systems have to be entirely rebuilt causing major capital investments, redesign at suppliers etc. Hence, platform technology reduces product development flexibility.

The literature on supply chain management indicates that cross-functional integration (CFI) may be a necessary practice to bring together demand and supply areas, and such an initiative can alleviate conflicts and improve the efficiency of the entire supply chain. However, there is little emphasis on the operational and technical aspects of CFI as a managerial practice and how this can influence demand processes. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze how the cross-functional integration contributes to carry out the demand forecasting process. In order to reach this aim, a case study was conducted in a Brazilian subsidiary of a multinational vehicle manufacturer. In total, sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted with managers of vehicle manufacturer and with its suppliers and resellers. As a result, it was identified that joint planning, willingness to work in team and group spirit were the most efficient tools to generate positive impacts in the organization and that factors such as cross-functional meetings and job rotation can present good results to increase the level of integration and improve the accuracy of the demand forecasting. Finally, this work suggests that crossfunctional integration could be used to improve market responsiveness and to obtain better accuracy in forecasting demand.

Design-driven innovation, focused on the innovation of product meanings, provides a new perspective to better understand the contribution of design to innovation. Additionally, it enables new opportunities for value creation. At small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Swedish wood products industry there is a need for such new value creation in order to remain competitive. However, design-driven innovation is not yet common in this context. Furthermore, there is little research on the innovation of product meanings focused on value creation. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore value creation through design-driven innovation, in the context of SMEs in the Swedish wood products industry. This research addresses what value might be expected from design-driven innovation, as well as what enables and hinders this value creation. 

To address the aim, three studies have been conducted which are described in four appended papers. The studies consist of one systematic literature review and two case studies. The findings demonstrate that design-driven innovation contributes to value creation by focusing on product meanings, which intentionally addresses both tangible and intangible needs and therefore increases the perceived value of products. This research identified five facets of design-driven innovation which provide a structure to discuss what enables and hinders value creation. These are: (1) understanding new product meanings, (2) knowledge generation, (3) actors and collaborations, (4) capabilities, and (5) process. The facets can be seen as the origin of both enablers and barriers to value creation through design-driven innovation, depending on how they are addressed. Moreover, this research suggests that whether or not value is created is further influenced by the SMEs, their networks and the context in which they operate.

Purpose – This study aims to explore the enablers and barriers to design-driven innovation, defined as the innovation of product meanings, in the product-development process. Previous research provides some insights into what enables and hinders design-driven innovation; however a detailed understanding of these factors is missing. Design/methodology/approach – A long-term case study was conducted at a furniture company between 2009 and 2016. Interviews were conducted with respondents within the company, as well as with partners such as retailers and designers. Findings – This paper presents an overview of the identified enablers and barriers. The results demonstrate that enablers and barriers occur in all phases of the product-development process. Second, the connections between enablers and barriers are presented. These are found both within and across different phases, and extend beyond the company’s influence. Research limitations/implications – This study demonstrates how the innovation of product meanings is influenced throughout all phases of the product-development process. Therefore, there is a need to go beyond the mere identification of enablers and barriers. More is gained from generating a thorough understanding of the causes and connections of these factors, including the changes over time. Practical implications – This study demonstrates the need for companies to be able to map what enables and hinders design-driven innovation in their product-development process, where a distinction needs to be made between internal and external factors, to enhance value creation. Originality/value – This study presents a rare long-term case study on design-driven innovation. This study provides new knowledge on the enablers and barriers a company faces while adapting its productdevelopment process to accommodate design-driven innovation.

Design-driven innovation focuses on the innovation of product meanings. This innovation is enabled by integrating knowledge on needs, product language and technological development. So far, it has mostly been studied in contexts where the buyer is the assumed end user. There has been little research about design-driven innovation in other contexts, such as business-to-business and public contexts. Here, companies need to create value for multiple stakeholders. In this study, these are defined as users, buyers and influencers. The aim of this study is to explore how companies consider the different stakeholders in the innovation of product meanings. Two companies participated in a case study. The results demonstrate that both companies mainly focus on addressing needs. However, while one case company prioritizes the perspective from the user, the other focuses more on the buyer. The results illustrate the increased complexity that companies need to manage in design-driven innovation in these contexts.

Design-driven innovation focuses on the innovation of product meanings. This innovation is enabled by integrating knowledge on needs, product language and technological development. So far, it has mostly been studied in contexts where the buyer is the assumed end user. There has been little research about design-driven innovation in other contexts, such as business-to-business and public contexts. Here, companies need to create value for multiple stakeholders. In this study, these are defined as users, buyers and influencers. The aim of this study is to explore how companies consider the different stakeholders in the innovation of product meanings. Two companies participated in a case study. The results demonstrate that both companies mainly focus on addressing needs. However, while one case company prioritizes the perspective from the user, the other focuses more on the buyer. The results illustrate the increased complexity that companies need to manage in design-driven innovation in these contexts.

The concept of cross-functional integration is based on the synchronization between different functions to meet organizational goals. One of the main elements identified in the literature within this theme is the cross-functional team (CFT), which is a group composed by members with different functional knowledge and experiences, from different parts of the organization, and under a leadership to accomplish a specific task. The objective of this paper is to characterize the internal dynamics of CFTs in different processes, such as: strategy development, product development, portfolio management, sales channels management, and business evaluation. Through a literature review, four basic dimensions were identified: Team’s Constitution; Task Drivers; Behaviors and Attitudes; Environmental Factors. A case study in a Brazilian service company was conducted in order to analyze these four dimensions in several teams. In-depth interviews, observation and documentary research were used for data collection. The results point out the necessity to invest time and attention in the constitution of the CFT, in order to select the appropriate functions it should be composed of, based on performance expectations. When the constitution of the team is characterized by a massive presence of senior members, positive impacts can be generated, such as: collaboration and team cohesion. This helps to reach team’s internal goals without frequent help from top management. This paper also presents implications related to the four studied dimensions, indicating ways to mitigate risks of failures and to avoid conflict within teams, and by that obtaining a superior performance.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to characterize the internal dynamics of cross-functional teams (CFTs) in different organizational processes in a service company.

Design/methodology/approach: A case study from a Brazilian service company was conducted. CFTs in five different organizational processes (strategy development, product development, portfolio management, sales channels management and business analysis) were analyzed through in-depth interviews, documents and non-participant observation.

Findings: A framework with four pillars was constructed: constitution of the CFT, task drivers, behavior and attitudes of the team and personal motivators. It was possible to analyze the process of how a group acts and reacts under changing circumstances based on the pillars included in the framework.

Research limitations/implications: The study is focused on creating analytical generalizability. Several insights in the 12 propositions presented in this study may be investigated in future research to validate the identified relationships among the pillars included in the framework. Moreover, the proposed framework allows the teams to be analyzed through a multidimensional view: structure, processes and impacts.

Practical implications: If the semantic boundaries of the communication are not well delineated, the differences in understanding can generate manifest conflicts. Moreover, the workload in a CFT seems to be larger and more complex than working in a functional activity; however, members perceive that it reduces the risk of unemployment and increases motivation.

Originality/value: The present study contributes to the extant literature with the proposal of a set of new exploratory propositions that can support future quantitative research about the use of CFTs in the service industry context.

Manufacturing competitiveness highly depends on companies' ability to rapidly reconfigure their assembly systems. This paper introduces the concept of assembly system proactivity based on interrelated levels of human involvement in a planed way will contribute to increased system ability to proactively address predicted and unpredicted events. Correct involvement of human operators will utilize the full combined potential of human and technical capabilities, also providing cost-efficient assembly system solutions. The ProAct (project presented) will develop proactive assembly system models, evaluating proactive, feature-based solutions. Focus is on realizing the potential of semi-automated system with relevant human involvement, i.e. operators with high skills adding e.g. flexible capability and functionality.

The purpose of this thesis is to fill a research gap in the understanding of the involved mechanisms between the innovation process and creativity in a manufacturing company. In particular focus are the two innovation process interfaces between the technology development, product development and production departments and their influence on creativity and information flow. A conceptual framework is proposed, based on the combination of previous research in individual creativity and innovation process, to assess the influence via the innovation process interfaces on product knowledge and creative climate as creativity prerequisites. This study uses an explorative two single case study design with integrated triangulation and an abductive approach to fulfilling the research aim. These case studies took place in two Swedish manufacturing companies with a complete in-house innovation process using semi-structured interviews, two questionnaires and focus groups. The findings imply that the innovation process affects the basic prerequisites of individual creativity knowledge and creative climate due to its structural, strategic and physical implementation. Furthermore, the interfaces between the innovation sub-processes technology development, product development and production mediate the exchange of information between the involved departments. The results of this study adding valuable insights in this research field and propose further research including systems theory to achieve further in-depth understanding.

Many organisations cooperate with customers and integrate in various ways to create further operational synergy and to reduce uncertainty in demand. Supply chain integration offers the opportunity to capture synergies and there are many advantages for organisations that integrate into networks of customers (and suppliers). Sharing of information between organisations makes it possible for a supplier to obtain early signals about changing market conditions and thereby reduce its reliance on uncertain forecasts on the demand side to get a higher utilization of production facilities and lower safety stocks. However, there are also opposite drivers of uncertainties seen from a subcontractor’s perspective, e.g. smaller customer structure that increases dependency. The optimal strategy is to balance these drivers. The aim of this paper is to observe risk and uncertainties inside the transactional environment from a subcontractor’s perspective. The paper gives a theoretical framework and observations from industry