Mass Customization Capabilities in Practice – Introducing the Mass into Customized Tech-Textiles in an SME Network

International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, vol. 12

Abstract

Mass Customization Capabilities in Practice -Introducing the Mass into Customized Tech-Textiles in an SME NetworkThe German textile industry is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources and specialized skills producing customized technical textiles following an engineer-to-order approach.To expand their skills, SMEs form business networks.The development and production of customized technical textiles in networks are highly complex.The coordination requires high effort and results in inefficient and ineffective information flow, weakening the networks' competitive advantage.Following a case study approach, we accompany an SME network over three years as they develop and implement a digital col-laboration platform.We derived a framework of microfoundations of Mass Customization capabilities supporting high-order Mass Customization capabilities for customer integration, solution space development, and robust processes.Thus, we present results on how an SME network in the textile industry leverages Mass Customization capabilities to increase efficien-cy via a digital collaboration platform.

Authors 2

1. Sarah Hönigsberg

   Chemnitz University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemnitz University of Technology , Faculty of Economics and Business Administration , Chemnitz , Germany

   Chemnitz University of Technology, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Chemnitz, Germany

2. Frank Thomas Piller Aachen School of Business and Economics

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University , School of Business and Economics , Aachen , Germany;