Article: Designing supplier networks in global product development Journal: International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management (IJPLM) 2021 Vol.13 No.2 pp.115 - 139 Abstract: The ability to coordinate geographically dispersed supplier networks are vital for firms to successfully manage global product development (GPD). Whilst some interactions between suppliers during GPD have been observed to increase GPD performance, research effort has been primarily addressed to investigate buyer-supplier relationships. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the possible supplier network configurations in GPD and the contextual factors that influence the adoption of the different supplier network configurations. Based on the evidence from 17 case studies, a taxonomy of supplier network configurations in GPD, specified as supplier localisation and nature of the relationship between suppliers, has been empirically validated. Moreover, results reveal that collaboration between research and development units (R&D), modular product design and larger firm size help to establish cooperation between globally dispersed suppliers. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Designing supplier networks in global product development

Authors: Margherita Pero; Monica Rossi; Jinou Xu; Roberto Cigolini

Addresses: Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4b, 20156, Milano, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4b, 20156, Milano, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4b, 20156, Milano, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4b, 20156, Milano, Italy

Abstract: The ability to coordinate geographically dispersed supplier networks are vital for firms to successfully manage global product development (GPD). Whilst some interactions between suppliers during GPD have been observed to increase GPD performance, research effort has been primarily addressed to investigate buyer-supplier relationships. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the possible supplier network configurations in GPD and the contextual factors that influence the adoption of the different supplier network configurations. Based on the evidence from 17 case studies, a taxonomy of supplier network configurations in GPD, specified as supplier localisation and nature of the relationship between suppliers, has been empirically validated. Moreover, results reveal that collaboration between research and development units (R&D), modular product design and larger firm size help to establish cooperation between globally dispersed suppliers.

Keywords: supplier network; supplier-supplier relationship; global product development; GDP; new product development; supplier involvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2021.116203

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2021 Vol.13 No.2, pp.115 - 139

Received: 29 Jan 2020
Accepted: 21 Sep 2020
Published online: 13 Jul 2021 *

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Title: Designing supplier networks in global product development

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