PhD defence J.A. (Jaime) Caballero Santin

Dissertation in short:

We are living in the era of automation, robots, and artificial intelligence. The so called “Digital Transformation” is driving companies to invest into new technologies to remain competitive and cope with the increasing demands of the market. Machines are being integrated into digital virtual production systems where operations are facing much more automation than ever before. How do large companies implement new technologies? How do organizations absorb digital innovations? This research aims to explore the phenomena of digital transformation in operations management, especially in Supply Chain Management, and provides insights into the effects of inter- and intra-company digitalization in industrial and corporate settings.
 
This dissertation is organized in three empirical studies that look at digitization and automation initiatives from different perspectives. The first study researches the digitalization of automotive supply chains of an automotive company through a customer-driven implementation of IoT-enabled technologies into the production plants of one of its suppliers. Conversely, the second study analyzes the implementation of automation technologies in business operations across a company’s internal organizations. Finally, the third study delves into a failed IoT product development story of the automotive company through a case study aimed to o provide a roadmap for practitioners and researchers. This dissertation explores supply chain digitalization attempts at large incumbent companies and sheds light into the factors that enabled and hindered those initiatives.