Improving the test object process for pre-series in China Concerning delivery precision and lead-time
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Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master Thesis
Master Thesis
Program
Supply chain management (MPSCM), MSc
Publicerad
2014
Författare
Bodestedt, Niklas
Kekišev, Jaan
Segerlund, Anders
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
When Volvo Car Group is launching a new car, extensive development work has preceded the launch, in the form of so called test objects. Test object are used to; test and verify that parts and production process are of the right quality and according to a set specification. Since 2010, Volvo Car Group has expanded their business in the Chinese market and opened new facilities with the aim of making China, their second home market. Volvo Car Group has opened new plants in China, which should produce cars for the Chinese market, thus test objects needs to be built in China as well. However, still a lot of activities are carried out in Europe, and a lot of parts are sent from Europe to China operations. From previous test object builds in China it has been seen long delays, with the consequence of delayed launch for the production car. Thereby, this project aims at study how delivery precision and lead-time are built up, and potentially improved, in the test object process. What kind of activities needs to happen during the build of test objects, and what kind of activities are needed to ensure that materials are available, in time, for the test object build in China. To conduct the thesis project both primary and secondary data has been gathered. Primary data, via interviews with around 20 different actors involved in the test object process, and secondary data from literature review and internal company documents. To treat the gathered data, Gantt-chart and process mapping has been used, in order to firstly, understand the process and conditions in which the test object process operates and secondly find risks for increased lead-time and improvement areas for reduced lead-time. Additionally, the process mapping view has its limitations and do not encompass all surrounding factors that could affect the test object process, thus an examination of these surrounding factors were made, targeted via the lens of organizational complexity. Improvement areas for reduced lead-time and risks for increased lead-time could be identified and highlighted. To build test objects in China and sending parts over from Europe, the major barriers could be found in the lack of knowledge within the Volvo organization on how to manage the situation with difference business set-ups for Europe and China operations. A foundation for decreased lead-time in the test object process, and increased delivery quality, could be initiated by applying standardization and education, for various actors and activities in the test object process.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Grundläggande vetenskaper , Övrig industriell teknik och ekonomi , Hållbar utveckling , Transport , Basic Sciences , Other industrial engineering and economics , Sustainable Development , Transport