Title: Analysis of supply chain planning centralisation for multinational companies

Authors: M. Melacini, A. Creazza, S. Perotti

Addresses: Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, p.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, Italy. ' Logistics Research Centre, Carlo Cattaneo University – LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, 21053 Castellanza, Italy. ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, p.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, Italy

Abstract: The complexity of globalisation emphasises the relevance for Multinational Companies (MNCs) for coordinating logistics flows within Global Supply Chains (GSCs). The aim of this paper is to analyse GSC planning configuration, describing the drivers determining the adoption of different degrees of planning centralisation. We developed a framework for studying the configuration of GSC planning, applying it to 10 primary MNCs. Finally, we analysed the stages of the supply chain (i.e., inbound logistics, production, outbound logistics) primarily involved in the centralisation choices, describing the main managerial approaches implemented when supply chain planning centralisation is undertaken.

Keywords: supply chain planning; global logistics; multinational companies; centralisation; supply chain management; SCM; MNCs; logistics flows; global supply chains.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2011.041867

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2011 Vol.9 No.4, pp.478 - 500

Published online: 06 May 2015 *

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