Abstract
In recent years increased attention has been paid to integrated demand and supply chain management. The present research study discusses the main concept in this context, i. e., flexibility. In particular, we have learned from existing research work, that is difficult to link the construct “flexibility” with performance (efficiency as well as effectiveness). Therefore, we analyzed important enablers of flexibility. Based on our conceptual flexibility framework, we discussed the impact of layout, process flow management as well as the forecasting performance (error). Our results provided some interesting insights. In particular, only process flow management is linked with effectiveness as well as efficiency performance. On the other hand, layout as well as forecasting performance, is only linked with efficiency. These results demonstrate that, e. g., forecasting is not directly linked with external results like customer satisfaction. Based on these results it is possible to motivate further research activities that should investigate these complex relationships more in detail.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cachon GP, Fisher ML (2000) Supply chain inventory management and the value of shared information. Management Science 46(8):1032–1048
Chase C (1999) Sales forecasting at the dawn of the new millennium? Journal of Business Forecasting Methods and Systems 18:2–2
Dalrymple D (1987) Sales forecasting practices: Results from a United States survey. International Journal of Forecasting 3(3):379–91
Das A (2001) Towards theory building in manufacturing flexibility. International journal of production research 39(18):4153–4177
Enns S (2002) MRP performance effects due to forecast bias and demand uncertainty. European Journal of Operational Research 138(1):87–102
Fisher M, Raman A (1996) Reducing the cost of demand uncertainty through accurate response to early sales. Operations Research 44(1):87–99
Gefen D, Straub D, Boudreau M (2000) Structural equation modeling and regression: Guidelines for research practice. Structural Equation Modeling 4(7)
Goddard W (1989) Lets scrap forecasting. Modern Materials Handling 39:39
Gupta Y, Somers T (1996) Business strategy, manufacturing flexibility, and organizational performance relationships: a path analysis approach. Production and Operations Management 5(3):204–233
Hallgren M, Olhager J (2009) Flexibility configurations: Empirical analysis of volume and product mix flexibility. Omega 37(4):746–756
Hanssens D, Parsons L, Schultz R (2003) Market response models: Econometric and time series analysis. Kluwer Academic Publishers
Ho C, Tai Y, Tai Y, Chi Y (2005) A structural approach to measuring uncertainty in supply chains. International Journal of Electronic Commerce 9(3):91–114
Hu L, Bentler P (1999) Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural equation modeling 6(1):1–55
Jack E, Raturi A (2002) Sources of volume flexibility and their impact on performance. Journal of Operations Management 20(5):519–548
Jammernegg W, Reiner G (2007) Performance improvement of supply chain processes by coordinated inventory and capacity management. International Journal of Production Economics 108(1-2):183–190
Kalchschmidt M, Zotteri G (2007) Forecasting practices: empirical evidence and a framework for research. International Journal of Production Economics 108:84–99
Kalchschmidt M, Zotteri G, Verganti R (2003) Inventory management in a multiechelon spare parts supply chain. International Journal of Production Economics 81:397–413
Kara S, Kayis B (2004) Manufacturing flexibility and variability: an overview. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management 15:466–478
Ketokivi M (2006) Elaborating the contingency theory of organizations: The case of manufacturing flexibility strategies. Production and Operations Management 15(2):215–228
Koste L, Malhotra M (1999) A theoretical framework for analyzing the dimensions of manufacturing flexibility. Journal of Operations Management 18(1):75–93
Lee H (2002) Aligning supply chain strategies with product uncertainties. California Management Review 44(3):105–119
Lee H, Tang C (1997) Modelling the costs and benefits of delayed product differentiation. Management science 43(1):40–53
Mahmoud E, Rice G, Malhotra N (1988) Emerging issues in sales forecasting and decision support systems. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 16(3):47–61
Mentzer J, Bienstock C (1998) Sales forecasting management. Sage Beverley Hills, CA
Nunnally J, Bernstein I (1994) Psychometric theory. New York, NY
Pagell M, Krause D (1999) A multiple-method study of environmental uncertainty and manufacturing flexibility. Journal of Operations Management 17(3):307–325
Podsakoff P, MacKenzie S, Lee J, Podsakoff N (2003) Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology 88(5):879–903
Reichhart A, Holweg M (2007) Creating the customer-responsive supply chain: a reconciliation of concepts. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 27(11):1144–1172
Ritzman L, King B (1993) The relative significance of forecast errors in multistage manufacturing. Journal of Operations Management 11(1):51–65
Slack N (1987) The flexibility of manufacturing systems. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 7(4):35 – 45
Slack N (2002) Operations Strategy. Prentice Hall
Stevenson M, Spring M (2007) Flexibility from a supply chain perspective: definition and review. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 27(7):685–713
Suarez F, Cusumano M, Fine C (1996) An empirical study of manufacturing flexibility in printed circuit board assembly. Operations Research 44(1):223–240
Swamidass P, Newell W (1987) Manufacturing strategy, environmental uncertainty and performance: a path analytic model. Management Science 33(4):509–524
Tallon W (1993) The impact of inventory centralization on aggregate safety stock: the variable supply lead time case. Journal of Business Logistics 14:185–185
Upton D (1994) The management of manufacturing flexibility. California Management Review 36(2):72–89
Vokurka R, O’Leary-Kelly S (2000) A review of empirical research on manufacturing flexibility. Journal of Operations Management 18(4):485–501
Vollmann T, Berry W, Whybark D (1992) Manufacturing planning and control systems
Zhang Q, Vonderembse M, Lim J (2002) Value chain flexibility: a dichotomy of competence and capability. International Journal of Production Research 40(3):561–583
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer London
About this paper
Cite this paper
Kalchschmidt, M., Nieto, Y., Reiner, G. (2009). Managing Demand Through the Enablers of Flexibility: The Impact of Forecasting and Process Flow Management. In: Reiner, G. (eds) Rapid Modelling for Increasing Competitiveness. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-748-6_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-748-6_21
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-747-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-748-6
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)