1) The document discusses research into optimizing product change processes and demand-supply chains in high-tech environments. 2) It outlines three action research cycles aimed at minimizing costs, shortening order delivery times, and reducing product change times. 3) The results of each cycle are analyzed to answer the research questions about the effects of optimizing for each factor. Positive and negative impacts are identified for each focus area.

1. Optimisation of Product Change Process and
Demand-Supply Chain in High Tech Environment
Dayou YANG,
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2. Optimisation of Product Change Process and
Demand-Supply Chain in High Tech Environment
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3. Presentation Contents
• Research Problem Statement & Sub-questions
• Structure of the Thesis
• Research Conditions
• The Details of Action Research Cycles
• Answering Research Questions
• Discussion & Future Research
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4. Research Problem
- A real challenge from one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure suppliers
Product
Amount Monthly Forecast & True Demand
Month
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5. Research Problem
- A real challenge from one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure suppliers
Research Problem Statement:
How should companies optimise the product change
process strategy in a situation where there are simultaneous
and variable pressures to be lean, agile and innovative.
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6. Research Sub-questions
1. What are the effects for the product change
process when costs are minimised?
2. What are the effects for the product change
process when order delivery period is minimised?
3. What are the effects for the product change
process when product change time is minimised?
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7. Structure of the Thesis
Chapter 1: Introduction
• Research background & motivation
• Objectives and scope
• Research process
Evaluate Diagnose
• Action research Action
Research
• Research context cycle
Act Plan
• Practical realisation
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8. Structure of the Thesis
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
• Manufacturing philosophies
• Developing demand-supply network
• Product change management
• Special characteristics of high-tech industries
• Theory synthesis
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9. Structure of the Thesis
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Minimise costs
• Manufacturing philosophies
(lean)
• Developing demand-supply network
• Product change management
• Rapid change Quick delivery
Special characteristics of high-tech (agile)
industries
(innovativeness)
• Theory synthesis
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10. Structure of the Thesis
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 3: Results of the three action research cycles
• Research cycle 1
– minimising costs
• Research cycle 2
- shortening order delivery time
• Research cycle 3
- shortening product change time
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11. Structure of the Thesis
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 3: Results of the three action research cycles
Chapter 4: Discussion
• Answering research questions
• Managerial implications
• Scientific implications
• Reliability and validity
• Research contribution & discussion
• Future research 11
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12. Structure of the Thesis
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 3: Results of the three action research cycles
Chapter 4: Discussion
Chapter 5: Summary
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13. Research Conditions
- The supply complexity is greatly affected by multiple product life-cycles
(Bengtsson et al., 2002) 13
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14. Research Conditions
- The research should provide new scientific contributions at the end
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
Strategy changes
Internal variants External variants
Business process Customer demand
changes changes
The Research via
R&D product “Product change Supply situation
changes Management” changes
… …
EXECUTION PROCESSES: People affect
operation
Product Creation Product Change Demand Fulfillment
Process Process Process
RESEARCH OUTCOME:
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The Thesis
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15. Action Research Cycles
- Scientific contributions are from multiple research cycles as a journey
RESEARCH JOURNEY OVERVIEW:
Evaluate Diagnose Evaluate Diagnose Evaluate Diagnose
Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Final
Min. inventory Quick delivery Rapid product
Conclusions
change
Act Plan Act Plan Act Plan
2003 2004 2005 2006 2010
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16. Action Research Cycles (The Cycle 1 as a Sample)
Research cycle 1
– minimising costs
Minimise costs
(lean)
Rapid change Quick delivery
(innovativeness) (agile)
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17. Action Research Cycles (The Cycle 1 as a Sample)
Research cycle 1
– minimising costs
Optimisation of Product Change in The Cycle 1
Manual synchronisation Into MRP
R&D
“Planning BOM”
Last “Proto” BOM Current BOM
Product Change Driver
Synchronising Pace = “Dynamic Cut-off Window” / Weekly
Weekly Status & Adjust Lists Forecast & Demand
0 Series Result
“Possible Scrap” Monitoring
Approval? Another “Proto” Round
Implementation
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18. Action Research Cycles (The Cycle 1 as a Sample)
Research cycle 1
– minimising costs
Product change implementation result
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19. Answering Research Questions
Question 1:
What are the effects for the product change process when costs are minimised?
Minimise costs
(lean)
Optimisation
Positive impact: Negative impact:
• Accept inaccurate forecast • Need IT (Information
Technology) to support as a
• Operate as weekly base
lesson learnt
• Minimise costs even including the liability
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20. Answering Research Questions
Question 2:
What are the effects for the product change process when order delivery period
is minimised?
Optimisation
Quick delivery
(agile)
Positive impact: Negative impact:
• Enlarge operational tolerance to “extreme” • Understand the liability
• Synchronise even with R&D • Understand the forecast as a
reference
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21. Answering Research Questions
Question 3:
What are the effects for the product change process when product change time
is minimised?
Optimisation
Rapid change
(innovativeness)
Positive impact: Negative impact:
• Make product change beyond the limits • Learn the difficulties of
(OK to a bigger scrapping cost) revolutionary solution
• Promote radical innovation (to reduce the
liability in an unusual way) 21
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22. Discussion
Optimisation with multi-strategies:
Not only the extremes but also the choices in the betweens !
Minimise costs
(lean)
Optimisation
Rapid change Quick delivery
(innovativeness) (agile)
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23. Future Research
“Total Synchronisation” concept with IT solutions:
(A time based optimisation not only in product change period but also as anytime
and anywhere in the operation)
Product change implementation result
How to solve
research Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 How to apply
problem and the principles
questions? to normal
operation?
(Anytime, Anywhere, …… = Total Synchronisation) 23
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