Case studies
Case study research on the design of global production and distribution networks are predominantly taking the perspective of the manufacturer of the goods. Only four case studies incorporate several perspectives, providing a wider view on the design of production and distribution networks: the manufacturer of goods, LSPs, port operators, telecommunications, and information providers in their study of factors influencing the outsourcing of global logistics functions; the determinants of success of a strategic partnership between a multi-national electronics manufacturer and a global ISF, concerning reconfiguration of the supply chain; the manufacturers, LSP as well as wholesale, when discussing the strategic role and localization drivers for production and distribution facilities; and the consequences of extending production networks from mature economic regions to low-cost regions, taking into consideration tine perspectives of global manufactures and LSPs.
Many case studies have treated particular aspects of reconfiguration of supply chains, such as postponement of manufacturing activities, consolidation of distribution centers, and outsourcing.
We find that all case studies on the design of global production and distribution networks have considered not only a structural element, such as facility location and/or capacity, but also a human element, e.g. organizational and/or managerial decision making.