Title: A conceptual model and an information tool for the establishment of production networks based on small and smallest enterprises

Authors: Matthias Zimmermann, Lars Zschorn, Joachim Kaschel, Tobias Teich

Addresses: Department of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany. ' Department of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany. ' Department of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz University of Technology, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany. ' Zwickau University of Applied Sciences of West-Saxony, PSF 201037, 08012 Zwickau, Germany

Abstract: Especially small and medium-sized enterprises possess not sufficient know-how and resources for developing and producing complex products desired by the customer. Collaborations within production networks with equal righted partners offers the chance to solve this problem. To enable the participation within the network, the paper illustrates the evolution and extension of the management and operation concept Extended Value Chain Management (EVCM), by which the whole life-cycle of such production networks, starting from the generation and ending by the decomposition of this network, is covered. Further, an information tool to support the EVCM is presented.

Keywords: extended value chain management; EVCM; non-hierarchical production networks; competence cells; customer enquiry; phase model; optimisation; competencies; virtual enterprises; decentralised product development; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2008.017732

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.342 - 358

Published online: 28 Mar 2008 *

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