Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management最新文献

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a policy, the 2014 UK Supply Chain Plan, which aimed to create a local supply chain in a sector (offshore wind) where the central manufacturing node capabilities and knowledge are not possessed locally. It aims to address the following question: can policy create a new manufacturing supply chain from a void?

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative field research approach is used to derive an original set of theoretical propositions explaining the motivation behind the Supply Chain Plan policy. The outcomes of this policy are examined 10 years later in order to provide an opportunity to observe the impact of the policy.

Findings

The conclusion is that the policy has been successful in increasing local content, and some of that local content has benefited local manufacturers. However, a lot of the increase in local content has been achieved in non-manufacturing areas or in new areas. The main issue, i.e. the lack of a central manufacturing capability, remains unaddressed. The impact of the local content policy on cost is undocumented.

Originality/value

There is an increasing amount of interest in regional/local supply chains after the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing geopolitical tensions. This paper's originality is to document with an industry case study the fact that manufacturing knowledge and capabilities are the central growth engine of supply chains and that creating a new manufacturing supply chain competing with well-established clusters is not a simple matter that can be achieved through a local content policy. Such policies raise critical questions about the policy makers' implicit valuation of manufacturing technology.

Purpose

Supply chain visibility plays a pivotal role in ensuring stakeholders have access to and share mutually beneficial information - information that is critical to processes, operations, and informed decision-making. This study leverages a framework to explore the influence of four key factors on supply chain visibility: supply chain linkages, supply chain relationships, green absorptive capacity, and information sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

This investigation adopted a survey-based research methodology to collect data. A sampling strategy was employed to recruit participants from various industry sectors, with a primary focus on manufacturing and business. A total of 204 useable questionnaires were obtained. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify underlying factors within the data. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was then used to assess the validity and reliability of the identified factors. Finally, structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypothesised relationships between the constructs studied.

Findings

This study's findings, particularly the significant positive correlations observed between information sharing, supply chain relationship, internal linkage, and green absorptive capacity, provide evidence that these factors are key drivers of supply chain visibility. Additionally, the analysis revealed that external linkages with supply chain partners further enhance information sharing within the chain.

Originality/value

This study offers a unique contribution by exploring the interplay between green absorptive capacity, information sharing, internal and external supply chain linkages, and their combined influence on supply chain visibility. Extending prior research that focused primarily on information sharing and traditional supply chain relationships, this study integrates green absorptive capacity and linkages within a novel framework. Our findings suggest that green absorptive capacity enhances information sharing within the supply chain network, ultimately leading to improved visibility. Furthermore, the study distinguishes the influence of internal vs external linkages on visibility.

Purpose

Although benefits are promising, many companies face problems leveraging synergies between Lean and Digitalization at the program management level. This paper aims to identify activities to manage the boundaries of Lean and Digitalization programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design follows a cross-industry multiple-case study approach. A total of 14 interviews were conducted with Lean and Digitalization experts from 10 companies. Interview quotes were mapped on a pre-defined list of descriptive codes and iteratively merged and excluded.

Findings

We identified 12 activities by which companies manage the boundaries of their Lean and Digitalization programs. Three distinct boundary management approaches could be identified: collaborative, configurational, and competitive. A collaborative approach fosters governance, the belief in synergies, and the development of combined artifacts. A configurational approach creates combined responsibilities, assesses areas of collaboration, and fosters interaction across the organization. A competitive approach creates unclear responsibilities and exchange, perceives no added value in integration and follows separated implementation of Lean and Digitalization programs.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the boundaries of Lean and Digitalization programs and identifies activities to manage them. We derive propositions for the Lean and Digitalization program management. Moreover, this study positions itself at the forefront of research investigating how integration of Lean and Digitalization actually occurs or does not occur.

Purpose

Organizations' technological management capabilities (TMC) have emerged as a powerful tool to enable manufacturing firms to deal with environmental issues. This empirical investigation aims to introduce and validate a novel conceptual framework that seeks to uncover the latent relationships among the selected constructs of this study. Organizational TMC could enhance green production (GP) and reinforce the green competitive advantage (GCA) among manufacturing firms. Therefore, this research investigates the role of TMC of firms such as artificial intelligence capability (AIC), big data analytics capability (BDAC) and Internet of things capability (IOTC) in reshaping green innovation (RGI), employee development (ED), GP and GCA.

Design/methodology/approach

The Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling was proposed to test and validate this research’s conceptual model using 463 valid responses from manufacturing under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella.

Findings

Our statistical findings confirmed that TMCs such as AIC, BDAC and IOTC supported the GP and CGA. ED and RGI positively correlated to GP. The hypotheses testing results also confirmed the mediating role of ED, RGI and GP and the moderating role of green firm innovativeness capability (GFIC) in the underdeveloped context of the manufacturing industry under the CPEC.

Originality/value

Moreover, the statistical findings of this study extend the existing literature by validating the possible direct, indirect/mediation and indirect/moderation relationship between TMC and GCA.

Purpose

This paper deconstructs the boundary-spanning technology innovation (BSTI) of manufacturing enterprises based on dual-meta and dual-degree perspective. We aim to explore the impact of differentiated internal reconfigurations on networking capabilities and, thus, different BSTIs and then reveal the optimal transformation paths of different BSTIs.

Design/methodology/approach

We use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to conduct an empirical study on 128 manufacturing enterprises in China to reveal the heterogeneous combinatorial path of internal reconfigurations on BSTI through the networking capability, and the case analysis in specific technology fields of Haier, Gree, Midea and TBEA is used to verify our results. The transfer entropy (TE) method is used to reveal the best transformation paths of different BSTIs.

Findings

The results show that the manufacturing enterprises follow the “I,” “T,” “⊥” and “|” reconfiguration logic to effectively realize multiple boundaries breakthrough (MBB), tick boundaries breakthrough (TBB), multiple boundaries reproducing (MBR) and tick boundaries reproducing (TBR) BSTI, respectively. The BSTI has two adjacent transformations named “dual-meta transformations” and “dual-degree transformations.” Nonadjacent transformations follow the “clockwise” transformation law. In “quality transformation,” “degree” transforms first and then “meta” follows, while in “feature transformation,” “meta” transforms first and then degree follows.

Originality/value

Firstly, the scientific classification of BSTI is carried out to guide enterprises to carry out accurate BSTI. Secondly, the “internal reconfiguration-networking capability-BSTI” paths of manufacturing enterprises are explored. Finally, the different laws of different BSTIs’ transformations are revealed.

Purpose

This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to critically analyze the current academic research on the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain management (SCM) and develop a theoretical framework and future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a comprehensive review of 68 relevant papers, this study synthesizes the findings to identify key themes based on extended technology-organization-environment (TOE) theory.

Findings

This study analyzes AI integration in SCM based on the TOE framework, identifying drivers (technological, organizational, environmental and human), barriers (technical, organizational, economic and human) and outcomes (operational, environmental, social and economic) of AI adoption. It emphasizes AI's potential in improving SCM practices like resilience, process improvement and sustainable operations, contributing to better decision-making, efficiency and sustainable practices. The study also provided a novel framework that offers insights for strategic AI integration in SCM, aiding policymakers and managers in understanding and leveraging AI's multifaceted impact.

Originality/value

The originality of the study lies in the development of a theoretical framework that not only elucidates the drivers and barriers of AI in SCM but also maps the operational, financial, environmental and social outcomes of AI-enabled practices. This framework serves as a novel tool for policymakers and managers, offering specific, actionable insights for the strategic integration of AI in supply chains (SCs). Furthermore, the study's value is underscored by its potential to guide policy formulation and managerial decision-making, with a focus on optimizing SC efficiency, sustainability and resilience through AI adoption.

Purpose

Recent research has garnered increasing attention to Quality 4.0, yet its implementation poses significant challenges across various industries. This study aims to identify and analyze the factors influencing Quality 4.0 implementation, considering their types and interactions. It offers solutions to facilitate the adoption of Quality 4.0 within Iran’s home appliance industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This research involved identifying the factors impacting Quality 4.0 implementation through a comprehensive review of relevant literature and the evolution of Quality 4.0. To evaluate the present status of these factors, data were gathered from the top ten manufacturing companies in Iran’s home appliance industry.

Findings

The study revealed that Perceived Saving Time emerged as the primary factor influencing changes in one of the backward scenarios of Perceived Saving Cost. Additionally, the research findings indicate that enhancements in the Vision and Strategy factor trigger a cascade effect across multiple factors, ultimately resulting in improvements in Knowledge and Awareness of Quality 4.0.

Originality/value

This research’s outcomes offer valuable insights for implementing Quality 4.0 and provide a novel perspective for researchers engaged in quality management.

Purpose

To investigate the factors affecting innovation in Six Sigma improvement teams. Based on Activation Theory, this study explores the possibility of an inverted U-shaped association between psychological safety and innovation and examines how intrinsic motivation moderates this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Moderated regression analysis is carried out to test the curvilinear relationship, using data collected from 324 members of 102 Six Sigma improvement teams from two European manufacturing firms.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that the beneficial effect of psychological safety reaches an inflection point, after which its relations with innovation cease to be linear and positive; this gives the relationship a curvilinear pattern (inverted U-shaped). Further, intrinsic motivation has a supportive effect in enhancing the beneficial impact of psychological safety on innovation, and in shifting the inflection points to a higher level; this demonstrates their synergetic influence on innovation.

Originality/value

The impact of psychological safety on innovation is examined from the new perspective of a curvilinear relationship. This is one of the first studies to investigate the combined effects of individual (intrinsic motivation) and team-level antecedents (psychological safety) on innovation in Six Sigma teams. The study provides insights into how Six Sigma enhances innovation and offers some valid inputs to the current academic debate on this topic.

Purpose

In this paper, we focus on how and when organizations adopt different types of ambidexterity to facilitate projects that operate with fundamentally different time scales compared with the dominant functions of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a comparative case study design, four case studies were conducted of long-term projects in two similar manufacturing plants within the same organization.

Findings

We found organizations first use structural and sequential ambidexterity in change efforts, during which new process knowledge is developed. When structural and sequential ambidexterity are not viable, change agents use this developed knowledge to support contextual ambidexterity. This contextual ambidexterity allows change agents to move between distinct time conceptions of event time and clock time.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of this study was that it only focused on two plants within one organization in order to control for variation. Future studies should look at a wider range of companies, technologies and industries.

Practical implications

While structurally and temporally decoupling change efforts help with differentiation of new technological change, there are limitations with these efforts. It is important to build an organization’s contextual ambidexterity as well as organizational supports to facilitate switching between clock time and event time.

Originality/value

This paper helps explain how and when organizations use different types of ambidexterity in resolving temporal conflicts when implementing longer-term technological change in fast-paced manufacturing settings.

Purpose

Examining synergies between Lean, Industry 4.0, and Industry 5.0 principles, the aim is to showcase how Lean's focus on people enhances Industry 5.0 implementations, leading to the development of the Lean 5.0 paradigm. In addition, insights from artisanal industries, like the fashion one, are specifically collected.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a literature review was conducted to define a comprehensive framework to understand how Lean fits into the Human-Centric (HC) paradigm of Industry 5.0. Second, a case study was employed to give empirical insights and identify practical initiatives that brands can pursue, involving two best-in-class leather goods brands located in Italy.

Findings

A conceptual framework to pave the way for new paradigm Lean 5.0 was defined and validated through a case study. To path the way for a case study in the fashion industry, the Lean HC paradigm is detailed into domains and related categories to group practices. The empirical insights demonstrate that Lean HC actions can be effectively supported by Industry 4.0 technologies in traditional sectors like the fashion industry, shifting towards Industry 5.0.

Practical implications

The proposed framework and related practices can be used by companies to facilitate their transition towards Industry 5.0, leveraging on Lean Manufacturing.

Originality/value

The innovative contribution of the present work mainly refers to the proposed conceptual framework, encompassing Lean, HC and Industry 4.0 and introducing Lean 5.0 paradigm. The case study enriches the empirical contributions in the fashion industry.