Die strategische Rolle von Produktionsstandorten in Hochlohnländern

Relevanz und Gestaltungsmerkmale von Lead Factories in Produktionsnetzwerken

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• Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag
• Year: 2009
• eBook ISBN:
  9783736930216
• Print ISBN:
  9783869550213
• Edition: 1

The topic of this thesis is the role of a lead factory with emphasis on its configurationand co-ordination aspects. The basis for this dissertation was established by benchmarking33 companies. During this project the main focus was on the relevance oflead factories in high-wage countries.The global and dynamic business environment requires many companies to pursuehybrid strategies that balance efficiency, global innovation and local responsiveness.The allocation of roles among the sites is expected to enhance the leveraging andbuilding of competences within the manufacturing network.A literature review shows that a wide range of scientists from different disciplineshave made a significant contribution to our understanding of site roles. An analysis ofall typologies shows that nearly every typology includes a role that equals the definitionof the lead factory. However, not a single framework presents a concrete descriptionof configuration and co-ordination elements. In this thesis a model of a lead factoryapproach is deduced from existing role typologies and from a consideration of resourced-based aspects of multinational companies. This model reflects the strategicfunction of production as well as the multidimensional target-setting of the company.The practical contribution lies in the development of applicable configuration and coordinationaspects that support companies in making the most of their manufacturingcapabilities. Using the framework, the strategic relevance of manufacturing sites inhigh-wage countries becomes visible.The theoretical contribution lies in the conceptualization of a general framework oflead factories that integrates several factories and functions and reflects different aspectsof Strategic Management.