Mastering Globalization - Meeting New Challenges for Planning and Operations Management

摘要

New requirements, especially in the field of cost, quality, flexibility, individualisation, customisation and adherence to delivery dates, lead to new challenges for enterprises in all economic sectors. In many cases labour cost advantages, access to customers and resources are the reasons why companies undertake international activities. Though, the existing concepts for planning and managing such widespread, global company networks haven't developed with the same speed, seen from both a scientific and a practical perspective. The paper presents a concept that places the planning and management of production systems and supply chains in a holistic and particularly global context. Based on empirical data from international projects and studies the influencing factors (especially with a global perspective) for productions systems and networks are determined. Globalisation must also be recognised as a considerably influencing factor for planning methodologies and operations management principles. That's why an extension of current planning and management principles is proposed that complements nowadays approaches and applied concepts. The proposed concept is substantiated with several cases from different industry sectors. The concept contributes to the theory of operations management principles and will support the competitiveness of enterprises which meet the challenge of globalisation.