Design of global supply chains

The purpose of this project is to extend knowledge of such strategies and their effects, with a particular focus on factors that influence the design of global supply chains that are both dispersed and integrated. A main research question is which manufacturing related competencies and functions can be separated and which need to be integrated and co-located in order to design efficient and effective supply chains. The project will particularly analyse how factors such as technological dynamics, demand for knowledge integration in the supply chain and the design of management accounting systems influence manufacturing strategies, including facility location. In addition, the effects of these strategies on company cost efficiency, flexibility and innovativeness will be analysed.

The research is conducted by academics from three universities and is based on three case studies of companies with a global presence, and an international survey, allowing comparison of different manufacturing strategies and their effect. The results of the project will be summarise in a framework that highlights feasible options for the design of global supply chains in Swedish engineering firms. 

The project is financed by Vinnova 2010-2012

Research team
Prof. Lars Bengtsson, Project manager, University of Gävle
Prof. Johnny Lind, Stockholm School of Economics
Senior lecturer. Camilla Niss, University of Gävle
Assistant professor. Mandar Dabhilkar, KTH and Linköping University
Tech.Lic. Robin von Haartman, University of Gävle
MSc. Henning Christner, Stockholm School of Economics
Vacant, PhD student,  University of Gävle

Contact
Prof. Lars Bengtsson, lars.bengtsson@hig.se, +46 70 631 23 91