Purpose

Although prior research provides evidence that production ramp-up is often disrupted by supplier-related problems, it fails to discuss how the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and various types of suppliers integrate their functions and operations to secure preparations for production ramp-up. The purpose of this paper is to investigate OEM-supplier integration in a new product development (NPD) project to prepare for production ramp-up.

Design/methodology/approach

The results presented in this paper are based on a real-time, longitudinal study of a single collaborative NPD project in the mechanical engineering industry. The NPD project involves seven suppliers and it is carried out in a large Swedish company (the OEM) and fits the theory-elaborating approach of this research.

Findings

This study argues that the aspect of timing in OEM-supplier integration, the OEM's research and development (R&D) attitude toward collaboration and the OEM's (R&D) operating procedure are challenges affecting the preparation for production ramp-up. The following three mechanisms to facilitate OEM-supplier integration in order to prepare for production ramp-up are also discussed: the mediator's role, the OEM's face-to-face meeting at the project level and suppliers? formal face-to-face meetings with the OEM and internally.

Originality/value

This paper elaborates on and extends prior research on production ramp-up by conducting an empirical analysis that incorporates supplier integration in NPD. It bridges the gap between the literature on production ramp-up and on supplier integration in NPD and clearly indicates that supplier integration is an important prerequisite for successful production ramp-up.