Evolution of Global Manufacturing Networks and xKD Supply Chains: A Cross Case Study of Six Global Automotive Manufacturers

摘要

The implementation of different types of knocked down (xKD) supply chains have been one main element of the internationalization strategies of automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The original plants in the industrialized home markets create handling kits that are imported by the oversea plants where the kits can be easily assembled in high quality despite lacking qualification of local workforce and without a local supplier base. Over time, the global manufacturing networks mature and the oversea plants increasingly overtake value-adding processes and integrate local suppliers. However, typically the supply chain management and design are not adapted to this maturing process and the supply chains are characterized by high inventories and long lead times. In this research, we develop an integrated framework to align the global manufacturing network and xKD supply chains in order to improve the logistics performance and to exploit cost potentials by means of a six-fold cross-case study of globally operating automotive OEMs.