Coordination within International Manufacturing Networks: A Comparative Study of Three Industrial Practices

Abstract

The globalisation of manufacturing activities has led to the emergence of internationally dispersed manufacturing plants. Coordination of such networks is a complex task and entails several management challenges. The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding regarding the coordination issues and how they could be managed in IMN environment. Using a multiple case study approach, data from three multi-plant manufacturing businesses were collected and analysed. The results include discussions on coordination aspects such as autonomy and mechanisms to conduct coordination. Furthermore, a model for assigning autonomy level to the plant in an IMN is suggested as well as mechanisms to conduct the coordination work.

Efficiency in design and production to achieve sustainable development challenges in the automobile industry: Modular electric vehicle platforms

“…MEVPs have been implemented in some plants of the manufacturers' European production networks that act as hubs for electric vehicle production. Regarding coordination mechanisms, although the plants in the network are relatively autonomous in terms of production, they still maintain traditional knowledge sharing with other plants (e.g., benchmarking, expertise exchange) (Lampón et al, 2019; Norouzilame & Wiktorsson, 2018).…”