Managing lean supply and innovation: cross-cultural knowledge transfer in an multi-national company

Abstract

There is growing evidence that organisations are increasingly using the concept of lean supply to foster innovation. This paper considers key factors that influence this management approach in the context of the cross-cultural transfer of both codified and tacit knowledge embedded in a manufacturing process. It reports current empirical research on a multi-national company American Power Conversion (APC)'s production line transfer from Galway, Ireland to Suzhou, P. R. China. It aims to explore the key factors influencing APC's lean manufacturing and knowledge transfer, and further provide a base-line from which pragmatic advice can be given to companies pursuing manufacturing or supply strategies. The research proposes to make a contribution on examining the key factors that influence the effective transfer of knowledge between two important countries in the global manufacturing landscape.