Collaborative supply chain planning — A case study from the German cutting tool industry

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the case study of the supply chain of a German cutting tool manufacturer. The Institute of Production Systems and Logistics (IFA) carried out a comprehensive analysis of the supply chain in cooperation with the companies that are partners in the chain. The analysis was carried out from a production logistics perspective. By use of the theory of logistic operating curves, logistic performance measures for manufacturing departments as well as for product stores were determined and potentials for improvement identified. The supply chain tiers were initially considered separately. This facilitated a detailed analysis of their specific logistic performance and its causes. Merging the results of the investigations led to a thorough understanding of the interdependencies that exist between the performances of different parts of a supply chain. The results of the individual studies were consolidated in order to support a more holistic approach to production management and to better achieve the objectives of the entire chain. A transparent combined Kanban-CONWIP control cycle was suggested in order to improve the collaborative production planning and control of the complete supply chain. Keywords Supply chain management, industrial case study, logistic performance measures, logistic operating curves. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENTDefinitions of Supply Chain Management (SCM) emphasise the collaborative aspects that this management paradigm incorporates -on a strategic (SchOnsleben, 2000) as well as on an operational level (Wiendahl et al., 1998). Hieber and Alard ( 1999) state that there is still a gap between the conceptual ideas of supply chain management and its application in industry. This is especially true for the case of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper presents a case study of a medium-sized German cutting tool manufacturer that reinforces this impression. The supply chain of this company was analysed in a comprehensive logistic investigation. This revealed the disparities between the best practices of SCM and H. S. Jagdev et al. (eds.), Collaborative Systems for Production Management

Metodología de Gestión de Inventarios para determinar los niveles de integración y colaboración en una cadena de suministro

“…Un caso de estudio exitoso en materia de planeación colaborativa es el realizado por el Instituto de Sistemas de Producción y Logística (IFA) alemán, en el que se llevó a cabo un análisis del desempeño de la logística de producción para empresas fabricantes de herramientas y tiendas de productos, para tener un enfoque integral de la gestión de la producción y para la consecución de objetivos de toda la cadena [25]. La metodología de planificación colaborativa, previsión y sistemas de reabastecimiento (CPFR) y gestión de inventarios ha sido aplicada en la industria de la moda, la que es dinámica y cambiante y requiere de una adecuada coordinación entre los agentes de la cadena de suministro [26].…”