Title: Supply chain integration in the IT manufacturing sector: how integration technologies adoption can improve efficiency

Authors: Hsin Chen; Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou

Addresses: Bedfordshire University, Park Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3JU, UK ' Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 9PH, UK

Abstract: Manufacturers are under pressure nowadays to better manage the supply chain and to improve manufacturing efficiency and logistics operations while remaining responsive to changing market conditions and customer demands. Organisations might need to integrate their information technology (IT) infrastructures to support the integration of their supply chains and increase their efficiency. Supply chain integration is considered as an important issue as nowadays the competition among enterprises is about the efficiency of supply chain, which emphasises on tighter cooperation relationship of overall supply-chain process. Thus, this paper explores the area of supply chain integration employed by 15 Taiwan IT manufacturing companies based on case study strategy to explore how the case companies and their suppliers integrate their supply chains. In doing so, practical implications for supply chain integration adoption are explained as a way to help researchers and organisations to better understand the supply chain integration in practice.

Keywords: technology adoption; integration technologies; supply chain integration; information technology; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; case studies; IT manufacturing industry; efficiency improvement; supply chain management; SCM; Taiwan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2013.053350

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2013 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.114 - 144

Published online: 02 Jul 2014 *

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