Abstract:
The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore face particular
challenges from increasing competition from manufacturers in China, India and
other East Asian countries. For these SMEs, survival and growth depend
critically on defining their own competitive space among other companies in the
manufacturing supply chains. Unfortunately there is little previous research on
Strategic Supply Chain Positioning (SSCP) with most current frameworks and
methodologies being developed from the perspective of the larger multinational
companies (MNCs). Therefore this research has set out to develop a practical
and robust SSCP methodology to support strategic decision making in SMEs in
Singapore.
The research programme began with a review of the existing methodologies and
selecting the most promising methodology for further evaluation. Testing of this
methodology was then carried out through four industrial case studies. Based on
the results of the evaluation, the methodology was refined and a pilot SSCP
methodology for SMEs was developed. Further testing was then carried out with
another four case studies to identify particular characteristics for further
improvement. The final SSCP methodology was then developed as a
computerised software tool and presented in Chapter 9 of this thesis.
The research has created a strategic supply chain positioning methodology that
provides practical and procedural aid for strategic supply chain positioning efforts
for SMEs in Singapore. This methodology guides the practitioner through a
series of well-defined steps necessary to define the desired strategic positioning
of the company in the supply chain. Such a methodology has been lacking in
previous research and, hence, is the main contribution to knowledge in this
thesis.
