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Servicing Individual Product Variants within Value Chains with an Ontology

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Modelling Value

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

Abstract

Today companies have to satisfy manifold and changing customer demands. However, the question why and under what circumstances certain product variants cause performance problems within value chain operations remains unsolved. Existing process descriptions, data-models and IT-systems are remarkably supporting planning and optimization efforts, but show significant deficits regarding the integration of heterogeneous internal and cross-company systems. Relevant issues such as the evaluation of demand variety impacts on the subsequent value-adding steps in the value chain are not sufficiently solved. Ontological modelling could notably advance the information exchange in complex value chains and thus enhance value chain flexibility through a semantic harmonization that enables faster and faultless information flows between companies. Further advantages are the distinct reusability, modifiability, extendibility and shareability of ontology-based value chain models and software. Despite a distinct need to advance cross-company integration, ontologies are used in supply chain management only occasionally. The need for methodical enhancement is high. Thus, the objective of this paper is to investigate obtainable benefits of ontological modelling for supply chain management (SCM) – here substantiated by means of a methodological support to improve product variety management in value networks. We provide a literature review, a conceptual framework and an implementation-guide for use in scenarios that represent the problems mentioned. The project-design was developed in an explorative feasibility study based on the sample case of an Austrian manufacturer. An achieved managerial insight that extends current SC-ontology contributions is a conceivable approach on how to gain a proof of concept for cross-company ontology application in value chains.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments to improve this paper. The Upper Austrian Government has supported the research project AGTIL (adaptive value creation, integrating technological, sociological and logistical issues), in particular “ASC – Adaptive Supply Chain” that enabled the feasibility study in this publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Process Management in Health Care, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Steyr, Austria

    Klaus Arthofer

  2. LOGISTIKUM Competence Center for Logistics and Enterprise Networks, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Steyr, Austria

    Corinna Engelhardt-Nowitzki

  3. Department of Operations Management, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Steyr, Austria

    Hans-Peter Feichtenschlager

  4. Research Unit Medical Informatics – RISC Software GmbH, A company of Johannes, Kepler University Linz, Hagenberg, Austria

    Dominic Girardi

Authors
  1. Klaus Arthofer
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  2. Corinna Engelhardt-Nowitzki
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  3. Hans-Peter Feichtenschlager
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  4. Dominic Girardi
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Correspondence to Klaus Arthofer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. FH Oberösterreich, Wehrgrabengasse 1-3, Steyr, 4400, Austria

    Herbert Jodlbauer

  2. , Department of Management, Linköping University, Linköping, 58183, Sweden

    Jan Olhager

  3. Schonberger & Associates, 107th Avenue N.E. #2101 177, Bellevue, 98004, Washington, USA

    Richard J. Schonberger

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Arthofer, K., Engelhardt-Nowitzki, C., Feichtenschlager, HP., Girardi, D. (2012). Servicing Individual Product Variants within Value Chains with an Ontology. In: Jodlbauer, H., Olhager, J., Schonberger, R. (eds) Modelling Value. Contributions to Management Science. Physica-Verlag HD. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2747-7_17

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