Prof. Dr. rer. pol. habil. Marcus Brandenburg

A data envelopment analysis (DEA) is presented to assess evolutions of firm efficiency and financial performance in automotive supply chains. A sample of 32 decision-making units (DMUs), 17 globally operating original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and 15 key suppliers from the automotive industry, is in focus of this analysis in which cost levels and capital requirements are put into relation to sales growth and profit. Cost of goods sold, operating capital, and net fixed assets represent the financial input of a company while sales growth and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reflect the financial output. The financial performance of a firm is indicated by its efficiency, calculated by an input-oriented variable returns to scale model. A multiple linear regression analysis reveals which operational performance factors are predictors of financial performance. A longitudinal DEA approach that covers the years from 2003 to 2017 is chosen to reveal performance evolutions over time. In order to analyze the stability of relationships between efficient firms (peers) and inefficient ones (followers) over time, changes in the performance relationship network are assessed in a graph-theoretic approach. In this study, geographical and structural specifics of DMU groups are taken into account. The study reveals similarities and differences between OEMs and their suppliers regarding the importance of value drivers and detects periods of performance losses and recovery from the global economic crisis.

The study at hand elaborates on potential barriers, prerequisites and optimization potentials for the automation of the twistlock handling process in container terminals. A case analysis enlightens latest automation developments of this essential task in container transport. Eight experts from different organizations in maritime logistics and seaport operations were interviewed in a qualitative multiple-case research design. The interviews were evaluated by qualitative-quantitative content analysis with MAXQDA software. Automated twistlock handling systems are hardly implemented, although they represent the missing link between other container handling technology in the automated container transport. The study reveals that most implementation barriers consist of technological issues, followed by economic and strategic barriers. The study identifies implementation strategies and their key success and shows that safety improvements and cost reductions are major benefits of this automation. An innovation framework for this field of automation is conceptualized as scientific contribution. Practical implications include recommendations for relevant stakeholders in container logistics.

The proposed study deals with sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in the textile and apparel (T&A) industry. We analyze prerequisites and practices of supply chain (SC) sustainability in a multiple case study of the German and Ethiopian T&A industry. Our analysis is based on ten semi-structured interviews conducted with the managers of seven companies in the Ethiopian T&A production and the German fair fashion retail industries. The contribution of expert knowledge helps in identifying SC sustainability prerequisites and practices. The chosen cases of production in Ethiopia and retail in Germany highlight the complexity of T&A SCs while representing both the suppliers’ and retailers’ perspectives, which is rare in the related literature. As a major research contribution, the study adapts a framework for SC sustainability in the chemical industry and transfers it to T&A SCs. Moreover, practitioners from the T&A industry find useful insights into relevant practices and their prerequisites, which helps in improving SC sustainability in this sector. The study reveals that management orientation and interest groups such as customers represent the most important prerequisites for sustainability. Manufacturers rely more on internal practices such as monitoring, while retailers focus on external sustainability practices, such as supplier development. In a comparative approach, similarities and differences between T&A SCs and the chemical industry are identified.