Developing a global manufacturing footprint corresponding to volatile en-vironments (new)

Researchers:

M.Rippel

Partners:

Hilti Corporation, Schaan

Financed by:

Hilti Corporation

Background:

In today‟s business environment, the market is characterized by increasing volatility in demand volumes and types and simultaneously by decreasing customer tolerance in terms of time. Manufacturing companies have to tackle these challenges in particular by enhancing flexibility of the production capacities and reducing the burden of fixed costs. As a consequence, an adaptation of the manufacturing strategy is essential.

Motivation:

When facing the aforementioned challenges, globally operating companies have to review their value adding architecture and their control processes and align them in an integrative and comprehensive manufacturing strategy in order to remain competitive. Associated problems arise:
Which footprint is required for the flexible global allocation of production capacities? How can the manufacturing assets in the production network be optimally utilized? Which concepts and measures are required to enable higher flexibility and responsiveness on the plant and network level?

Objectives:

The project has two main objectives: First, the project analyses existing concepts for aligning production networks regarding production footprint, make-or-buy decision, as well as flexibility measures. Second, the
project outcome encompasses a methodology which supports manufacturing companies to implement measures for systematically enhancing agility in the global business environment.