Backshoring of Danish manufacturing companies: A learning process perspective
Authors
Gustafson, Lasse Sekjær ; Pesoutova, Katerina
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-06-07
Pages
171
Abstract
This thesis examines backshoring among Danish manufacturing firms from a learning-process perspective: how companies relocate production back home, organize knowledge sharing, and ensure that experience is retained. The study adopts a qualitative design based on interviews with four Danish manufacturing companies selected for having backshored. The analysis finds substantial variation in knowledge-sharing practices, largely linked to firm size: smaller firms rely on ongoing verbal sharing to keep everyone aligned, while larger firms formalize knowledge in written procedures to reach broader audiences. The data also suggest a bandwagon effect in some earlier offshoring decisions, as firms followed competitors and suppliers—a risky path that nonetheless makes others’ lessons more accessible. Backshoring decisions were taken when they made economic or value-creating sense; although offshore production could still offer lower costs, advances in technology and the benefits of colocating production with R&D supported returning activities to Denmark. The thesis recommends combining verbal and written knowledge-sharing mechanisms, managing the process in a structured way, and broadening pre-decision analyses beyond costs to include risks and stakeholders. The findings are bounded by a small sample, the inclusion of both SMEs and MNEs, a focus on production activities, and the Danish context.
Dette speciale undersøger backshoring blandt danske fremstillingsvirksomheder med fokus på læringsprocessen: hvordan virksomheder gennemfører tilbageflytning af produktion, organiserer videndeling og sikrer, at erfaringer ikke går tabt. Undersøgelsen anvender en kvalitativ tilgang baseret på interviews med fire danske fremstillingsvirksomheder udvalgt for konkret backshoring-erfaring. Analysen viser, at videndeling håndteres forskelligt og i høj grad afhænger af virksomhedsstørrelse: mindre virksomheder lægger vægt på løbende mundtlig videndeling for at holde alle opdateret, mens større virksomheder formaliserer viden i skriftlige processer for at nå mange medarbejdere. Resultaterne peger også på et bandwagon-fænomen i tidligere offshoring-beslutninger, hvor nogle fulgte branchens strøm, hvilket er risikabelt, men samtidig gør andres erfaringer tilgængelige. Backshoring blev truffet, når beslutningen gav økonomisk eller værdiskabende mening; selv om offshore-produktion fortsat kunne være billigere, gjorde nye teknologier og fordelene ved at have produktion tæt på FoU tilbageflytning attraktiv. Specialet anbefaler at kombinere mundtlig og skriftlig videndeling, arbejde mere struktureret gennem hele forløbet, og udvide beslutningsanalyser ud over omkostninger til også at omfatte risici og interessenter. Undersøgelsen er afgrænset af et lille antal cases, variation i virksomhedsstørrelse, fokus på produktionsaktiviteter og en dansk kontekst.
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