Autonomous, elementary units of production, cooperating in temporary networks, are considered as a key organisational form of enterprises in the 21st century. A scientific approach is provided by networks based on customer-oriented, directly linked, smallest autonomous business units called Competence Cells. Models for Competence Cells and their networking were developed. For such networks also an operationalised concept of organisation is needed. With the 'Holistic Integration Method' (HIM) an organisational manual is provided. The general architecture of the Holistic Integration Method consists of the levels 'Portal', 'Process Engine' and 'Methods and Tools'. The concept of Competence-cell-based Networks leads to new requirements for the planning of production systems of such networks. Therefore a framework called 'PlaNet-Planning Concept for Networks' has been developed. PlaNet, which is a component of HIM, provides the means that enable the Competence Cells to solve their planning problems. The framework includes methodical and default components for planning and design logistics structures and production plants. The suitable basis for PlaNet has been found with the Systems Engineering Methodology (SE). Thus the components of the methodical concept of PlaNet are derived from the components of SE. The Net Planning Assistant with its Production Database is a toolset which comprises software implementing the methods of PlaNet including tools for participative planning.
Abstract. Cooperation is a key success factor for small and medium enterprises (SME) in most of the countries. At the beginning of the 2000s, a large European study has analysed the extent and the effect of cooperation between SMEs. However, how successful have been cooperation of SMEs during the economic crisis of the last years? Has the cooperation rate decreased or increased? What are the drivers and obstacles of SME cooperation? Based on an empirical study in a SME-rich region in Germany, which was finished in January 2011, these and further questions will be answered in detail.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.