Connecting product design, process and supply chain decisions to strengthen global supply chain capabilities

The importance of product design as a main determinant of process design has been emphasized in operations management literature for decades, but the direct and indirect impacts of product design on process and supply chain activities is a research area that has received less attention to date. This multiple case study addresses this research gap by assessing how and why changes in product design shape process and supply chain practices and in particular, how these changes influence global supply chain behavior and capabilities. Utilizing a 3DCE theory base, multiple manufacturing case studies are compared and contrasted to examine the interrelationships and dependencies among product, process and supply chain behaviors and capabilities. Product design changes were found to alter the scope and scale of process and supply chain modifications in specific ways that alter firms' competitive product design customization capabilities and competencies; flexible, advanced process technologies; and collaborative supplier practices. This study contributes to operations management literature by providing a rich empirical analysis of operations system interplay. The study develops substantive research propositions and a 3DCE theoretical framework that may be used to drive future operations management research and in addition, provides managerial insights that can be used to strengthen supply chain capabilities in a global and dynamic context. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.