@inproceedings{BremerLehrRudloff, author = {Bremer, Peik and Lehr, Christine and Rudloff, Anna}, title = {Electric Mobility and Digitalization: Do Automotive Supply Networks Adapot in Revolutionary oder Evolutionary Patterns?}, series = {Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Logistics - Supply Chain Networks vs Platforms: Innovations, Challenges and Opportunities, W{\"u}rzburg}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Logistics - Supply Chain Networks vs Platforms: Innovations, Challenges and Opportunities, W{\"u}rzburg}, pages = {146 -- 157}, abstract = {Purpose of this paper: Two major trends, electric mobility and digitalization, are going to transform the automotive industry. Car manufacturers and suppliers alike are under increasing pressure to adapt to these trends. This paper shows how German car manufacturers and their suppliers assess electric mobility and digitalization in terms of supply network adaptability. It is discussed if these trends follow evolutionary or revolutionary patterns. Design/methodology/approach: Adaptation can be seen as a process of evolution - in natural ecosystems as well as in supply networks. Evolutionary Economics and Punctuated Equilibrium are combined into a theory framework to analyze the adaptation processes of German automotive supply networks. Data has been collected in four in-depth interviews with managers of German car manufacturers and tier-1 automotive suppliers, respectively. Findings: Both car manufacturers and automotive suppliers see electric mobility as a trend that is still in an equilibrium and can be dealt with slower, gradual modes of adaptation. However, some experts have the opinion that this will only work until a tipping point is reached. In contrast, the impact of digitalization on automotive supply networks is much less clear. While some experts see a distinct revolutionary impact on the supply networks which requires an abrupt adaptation to new scenarios, others follow a more conservative view assuming a longer time allowance for supply networks to adapt gradually. The data suggests that the former have a focus on the connected car/autonomous driving, while the latter are following a more general approach that also includes "smartphone-on-wheels" concepts. Irrespective of the impact on a company's products, digitalization changes the way a company works internally and collaborates with both its supply network and its customers. Both car manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers agree that the supply networks enjoy long phases of relative stability. Trends requiring a rapid, fundamental adaptation are rare. This suggests that the theory framework that combines Punctuated Equilibrium and Evolutionary Economics is a promising toolset for analyzing the adaptation of supply networks. Value: This paper presents empirical insight from the automotive industry on how car manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers prepare to cope with the trends of electric mobility and digitalization. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to combine Punctuated Equilibrium and Evolutionary Economics into a conceptual model for the adaptation of supply networks as a response to fundamental changes.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BremerRisslingFriedrich, author = {Bremer, Peik and Rißling, Jennifer and Friedrich, Felix}, title = {What Constitutes Logistics Innovation? A Case Study of the German Logistics Award}, series = {Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Logistics - Building Resilience for Supply Chains, Seoul}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Logistics - Building Resilience for Supply Chains, Seoul}, pages = {57 -- 57}, abstract = {Purpose of this paper: Despite the importance of logistics innovation, not many academic papers discuss this topic in detail, even less consider the contents of logistics innovation. Other perspectives, e. g. organizational structure and process management, have attracted much more attention in logistics innovation research. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of logistics innovation from a content perspective. Design/methodology/approach: We have conducted a case study of the German Logistics Award (GLA), an innovation award, for which BVL, the German Association of Logistics Professionals, invites project proposals on an annual basis. In our study, we followed an interpretivist and social constructivist approach using two streams of data (1) archival data for the award-winning projects for the five years from 2015 to 2019 and (2) in-depth interviews with the BVL management as well as members of the GLA jury. Using MaxQDA, we applied Qualitative Content Analysis to the data to investigate what constitutes logistics innovation. Findings: Logistics innovation is rarely the lead implementation of groundbreaking new technologies in the field of logistics but is perceived as architectural innovations based on novel reconfigurations of existing technology. Although technology, and especially technology facilitating the digital transformation, is a central aspect of logistics innovation, the key innovation lies in delivering consistency, i.e. a holistic integration approach in terms of both reach (across departments and/or supply chain partners) and depth (tying together physical processes and information flow as well as harmonizing automation and human work, etc.). Value: Our study contributes to the understanding of logistics innovation from a content perspective. It showcases the role of logistics as a key driver of corporate change and highlights the importance of consistency for gaining a sustainable competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications: Logistics innovation as it is visible in the GLA-winning projects is socially constructed by the GLA jury. Further research should investigate whether the jury's concept of logistics innovation resonates with the industry on a broader scale. An empirical survey of logistics executives is required to better understand if striving for consistency, as our study suggests, is driving the innovation cycle in logistics}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BremerHerbertStrein, author = {Bremer, Peik and Herbert, Elisa and Strein, Markus}, title = {Smart Logistics as a Digital Ecosystem: An Integrative Literature Review and Conceptual Framework}, series = {Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Logistics - Building Resilience for Supply Chains, Seoul}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Logistics - Building Resilience for Supply Chains, Seoul}, pages = {16 -- 16}, abstract = {Purpose of this paper: Smart logistics is a popular topic these days, connecting logistics to the overarching trend of the "smart factory" or "Industry 4.0". However, despite its attractiveness and suggested practical value, it seems to be still (1) limited to isolated applications in industry and (2) insufficiently conceptualized in academic research. The purpose of this paper is to develop a consistent conceptual framework for smart logistics that can be used to design integrated smart logistics solutions. Design/methodology/approach: Applying the theory lens of the digital ecosystem, we use an integrative literature review to identify and put into a consistent perspective the various conceptual elements of smart logistics suggested in extant research. We analyze these elements along three dimensions according to the main categories of digital ecosystems: (1) digital species (the smart objects in logistics), (2) space (the processes in which these smart objects are relevant), and (3) domain (the objectives these smart objects pursue). We classify the smart objects as intelligent products, while for the process dimension we make use of the building blocks (production, storage, and transportation) of the self-similar architecture of supply chains. The categories for the objective dimension are synthesized from the papers selected for the integrative literature review. Findings: The published research on smart logistics has already produced a set of smart objects in logistics. However, our analysis reveals that - beyond a common ground with respect to the underlying ubiquitous technologies of smart logistics - the conceptualization of the objects' smartness, i.e. which objectives they autonomously pursue, is much less consistent. Our study shows that digital ecosystems are a promising approach to a consistent conceptualization of smart logistics. Value: Few papers systematically analyze the extant research on smart logistics, but they are either limited to a small subset of the supply chain, the underlying ubiquitous technologies or discuss a specific focus like the contribution of smart logistics to fulfilling individualized customer demands. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to integrate the extant literature into a consistent conceptual framework for smart logistics. Research limitations/implications: The conceptual framework still needs to be validated through discussions with industry experts and case studies.}, language = {en} } @article{Bremer, author = {Bremer, Peik}, title = {Towards a reference model for the cold chain}, series = {The International Journal of Logistics Management}, volume = {29}, journal = {The International Journal of Logistics Management}, number = {3}, publisher = {Emerald Publishing Limited}, issn = {0957-4093}, doi = {10.1108/IJLM-02-2017-0052}, pages = {822 -- 838}, abstract = {Purpose: Generic business process models for the supply chain do not cover the specific requirements of the cold chain catering to the needs of temperature-sensitive, perishable goods. The purpose of this paper is to draft a reference model specific to the cold chain. Design/methodology/approach: Following an object-oriented modeling approach, conceptual elements that have been synthesized from a literature review are transferred into the static view (object model) of the reference model. In addition, the reference model's dynamic properties representing the business process view are outlined. Findings: While a few atomic process steps are sufficient to model the cold chain's dynamic properties, the complexity of the cold chain lies in the object model. The classes of the object model are highly interrelated and cover four domains: perishable product, information technology, infrastructure/equipment and regulatory framework. This technical approach is more adequate to the complex nature of cold chains than typical business process models. Research limitations/implications: In the present draft status, the reference model is limited by the pure conceptual approach of this paper. As it is in the nature of things for a draft of a reference model, case studies to challenge the draft and a discourse of experts are required before detailed specifications can be added or any software implementation can be started. It is expected that the reference model is able to substantially support further research on cold chain design and optimization. Practical implications: The cold chain reference model is intended to be a standard toolbox for planning and evaluating cold chains. By integrating the technical, information technology and regulatory objects behind the business processes, it allows to design and analyze cold chains from a more holistic perspective. Originality/value: To the best knowledge of the author, this paper is the first to outline a reference model for the cold chain that goes beyond the business processes.}, language = {en} } @book{BrueggemannBremer, author = {Br{\"u}ggemann, Holger and Bremer, Peik}, title = {Grundlagen Qualit{\"a}tsmanagement - Von den Werkzeugen {\"u}ber Methoden zum TQM}, edition = {1}, publisher = {Springer Vieweg}, address = {Wiesbaden}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-8348-8301-8}, abstract = {Dieses Lehr- und Fachbuch stellt sehr {\"u}bersichtlich und leicht verst{\"a}ndlich die Grundlagen des Qualit{\"a}tsmanagements dar. Dabei wird der Bogen von den elementaren Qualit{\"a}tswerkzeugen {\"u}ber die klassischen Qualit{\"a}tsmethoden bis zum umfassenden Qualit{\"a}tsmanagement TQM gespannt. Zahlreiche Verst{\"a}ndnisfragen und {\"U}bungsaufgaben mit L{\"o}sungen sowie eine praxisorientierte Beschreibung erm{\"o}glichen leicht ein Selbststudium.}, language = {de} }