Title: Manufacturing competence: a key to successful supplier integration

Authors: Robin Von Haartman, Lars Bengtsson

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Gavle, SE-80176 Gavle, Sweden. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Gavle, SE-80176 Gavle, Sweden

Abstract: Extensive involvement of suppliers in new product development and manufacturing development has often been associated with superior performance. Some authors have also alleged that companies need comprehensive internal competencies, or absorptive capacity, in order to fully benefit from external expertise. This paper analyses this relationship on an operational level in manufacturing companies. Based on a large-scale survey it is shown that companies with greater internal manufacturing competencies gain significantly from supplier involvement in terms of most performance indicators, whereas those with lesser internal competencies have little to gain from such external cooperation.

Keywords: manufacturing competence; supplier integration; absorptive capacity; supplier involvement; performance indicators.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2009.022437

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.16 No.3, pp.283 - 299

Published online: 05 Jan 2009 *

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