Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to identify and prioritize the critical success factors (CSF) and challenges to competitive manufacturing (CM) and production of textiles and apparel (T/A) in a high-cost area. The practitioners’ perspective in prioritizing the CSFs and evaluating their likelihood to enable further reshoring can provide insights into the ability of the factors to sustain reshoring strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is a modified Delphi, with a mixed methods approach, as semi-structured interviews were conducted to support the quantitative data and gain a richer understanding. A systematic literature review was carried out to form a basis for the Delphi with potential CSFs and challenges to CM in a high-cost area. The utilization of online questionnaires led to the prioritization of CSFs and challenges to sustaining CM. The prioritization of the CSFs and evaluation for likelihood to lead to further reshoring, were assessed for correlation, to understand their ability to enable and sustain reshoring strategies.
Findings
The findings show that the most important CSFs for CM in a high cost area were related to products, production, and time. Specifically, short lead times were crucial, and high quality and customization were considered of great importance. There was no agreement as to the most important challenges. However, those related to costs and industry dynamics, including lack of skilled workers, were faced by many. There was found to be significant correlation between the CSFs and their ability to enable further reshoring.
Practical implications
The practitioner identification and prioritization of the CSFs and challenges can support managers in making location and make/buy decisions, and provide guidance as to what is necessary for the sustainable competitiveness of reshoring strategies.
Originality/value
The identification and prioritization of what makes manufacturing competitive in high-cost areas, in particular in a labor-intensive industry, provides support for reshoring decisions and an understanding of how reshoring strategies can be sustained.
2017.