Product architecture and supply chain design: a systematic review and research agenda

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the extant literature on the relationship between product architectures and supply chain design to identify gaps in the literature and identify future research opportunities. Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the peer-reviewed literature on product architectures and supply chain written in English. The search strategy is based on selected databases and keywords. In total, 56 articles from 1995 to 2013 were identified. Findings – Three key dimensions are identified for the categorization of the literature: the type of product architecture, the type of supply chain and the research methodology. Furthermore, we identify themes related to outsourcing, supplier selection, supplier relationships, distance from focal firm and alignment. Research limitations/implications – The present search strategy may have missed some references that are related to the area. However, as a counter-measure, we used back-tracking and forward-tracking to identify additional relevant papers. A research agenda is proposed for further research on the interaction of product architectures and supply chain design. Originality/value – This paper is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the first broad review that investigates the interrelationship between product architectures and supply chain design.

Modelling project complexity driven risk paths in new product development

“…Pashaei and Olhager [13] conducted a systematic review of the extant literature on the relationship between product architectures and supply chain design. They identified a major research gap concerning limited research on the management of risks associated with product architectures and supply chain design.…”

Product architecture, global operations networks, and operational performance: an exploratory study

“…While many firms are convinced of aligning their product offerings with customer requirements, these decisions tend to create a number of challenges to the performance of their operations (Salvador, Forza, and Rungtusanatham 2002). The management of the relationship between products, and specifically product architecture (PA) and global operations networks (GON) is important but not straightforward (Pashaei and Olhager 2015). Product architecture decisions are relevant for both the operational performance and product performance (Fixson and Park 2008) and it has commonly been suggested that the structure of the products should mirror its organization (Colfer 2007).…”

The impact of modular designs on new product development outcomes: the moderating effect of supply chain involvement

“…A large body of literature indicates the need to consider supply chain designs in addition to product and process designs in NPD (Pashaei and Olhager, 2015, Nepal et al, 2012, Petersen et al, 2005, Wang et al, 2018. Involving suppliers and customers in NPD has been viewed as an important approach for a manufacturer to obtain external resources and knowledge (e.g., Lau, 2011b, Salvador and Villena, 2013, Peng et al, 2014.…”