Browsing by Author "Zhang, Lihong"

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    Joint Venture Manufacturing in China : an Exploratory Investigation
    (Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z) Zhang, Lihong; Goffin, Keith
    International joint venture (IJV) manufacturing is important for both the Chinese economy and a large number of foreign investors. A review of the literature from both Western and Chinese researchers showed that although the purpose and advantages of IJV manufacturing in China are known, a vital aspect – operations management – has largely been ignored. Therefore, exploratory interviews with managers at six companies were conducted to investigate the operations management issues faced by IJV manufacturers in China. Four main problems were identified: the difficulty with recruiting and training suitable employees; all aspects of supplier management; problems with achieving high- quality output; and achieving an effective IJV business culture. The results have implications not only for researchers, in that they indicate where more research is necessary, but also for practitioners, since they identify the areas where IJV manufacturers are most likely to encounter problems in Ch
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    'Managing the transition' : supplier management in international joint ventures in China
    (Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z) Zhang, Lihong; Goffin, Keith
    Attracted by the easier access to local markets, many foreign companies have formed manufacturing joint ventures in China. One of the key elements of successful international joint venture (IJV) manufacturing in China is the management of suppliers, since the supply chain plays an essential role in contributing to both the quality of finished products and controlling costs. Supplier management in Chinese IJVs is an under-researched area and so an exploratory study of five manufacturers was conducted using a case study approach. The results show the difficulties faced by IJVs which are in attempting to maintain quality levels at the same time as trying to reduce costs by purchasing materials and components locally. In addition to identifying important implications for companies, the research shows the need for further investigation of the contextual aspects of good supplier management.
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