Choosing the Right Communication Medium for Knowledge Transfer in Global Production Networks

Abstract

Producing companies have been facing the challenge of increasingly changing worldwide market conditions. As international presence has gained greater importance, many companies have spread their production network globally. To coordinate such rapidly growing structures, the systematic transfer of in-house production knowledge is essential. Thereby, one of the main influence factors on knowledge transfer is communication. Hence, a large potential lies within the optimization of cross-site communication. This paper presents a systematic approach for the optimized selection of a situation-specific suitable communication medium for knowledge transfer tasks in global production networks along distinct and rateable criteria. The approach is then validated by a survey.

Authors 5

1. Günther Schuh Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Andreas Gützlaff Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Katharina Thomas Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Niklas Rodemann Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. I. Rittstieg Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany