The replication of expansive production knowledge: the role of templates and principles

Purpose – With the aim to support offshore production line replication, the specific purpose of this paper is to explore the use of templates and principles to transfer expansive productive knowledge embedded in a production line and understand the contingencies that influence the mix of these approaches. Design/methodology/approach – A total of two case studies are introduced. Empirical data were collected over a period of two years based on interviews and participating observations. Findings – The findings show that knowledge transfer within the replication of a production line is a stepwise expansive process; and rather than being viewed as alternative approaches, templates and principles should be seen as complementary once the transfer motive moves beyond pure replication. Research limitations/implications – The concepts introduced in this paper were derived from two Danish cases. While acceptable for theory exploration, the small sample size is an obvious limitation for generalisation. Practical implications – A roadmap for knowledge transfer within the replication of a production line is suggested, which, together with four managerial suggestions, provides strong support and clear directions to managers. Originality/value – Research in replication to date has mostly focused on templates and has mainly taken an organizational perspective. This paper shows its potential contribution on bridging the relevant theoretical gaps by addressing the effects of principles; and exploring how to use templates and principles to transfer productive knowledge in a specific context, which, in this paper, is a production line.