Supplier network relocation in a capital-intensive context: a longitudinal case study

The problem of delocalisation has assumed enormous importance over the last years, given the ever increasing number of firms who turn to it in order to improve their competitive performance. This type of intervention has an impact that extends throughout the whole supplier network of those firms that delocalise. The originality of this research in comparison with the numerous studies on this subject lies in analysis of the supplier network relocation of a firm that has delocalised the production plant and operates in a capital-intensive context. The use of the action research method has enabled us to carry out fieldwork, by conducting a longitudinal case study, on what problems can occur, what solutions can be adopted, and what contingent factors are critical for the realisation of a supplier network delocalisation project in a particular context, such as a capital-intensive context.