Author(s)

Farhad Norouzilame^1,2, Magnus Wiktorsson¹

¹School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Mälardalen University, Eskilstuna, Sweden.
²LEAX Group, Köping, Sweden.

The globalisation of manufacturing activities has led to the emergence of internationally dispersed manufacturing plants. Coordination of such networks is a complex task and entails several management challenges. The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding regarding the coordination issues and how they could be managed in IMN environment. Using a multiple case study approach, data from three multi-plant manufacturing businesses were collected and analysed. The results include discussions on coordination aspects such as autonomy and mechanisms to conduct coordination. Furthermore, a model for assigning autonomy level to the plant in an IMN is suggested as well as mechanisms to conduct the coordination work.

International Manufacturing Network, Coordination, Case Study

Norouzilame, F. and Wiktorsson, M. (2018) Coordination within International Manufacturing Networks: A Comparative Study of Three Industrial Practices. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 8, 1603-1623. doi: 10.4236/ajibm.2018.86107.