Master’s degree project in Logistics and Transport Management 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
           Keeping track of inventory by introducing a  
                  track and trace system 
       
             A case study at Svenska Mässan Gothia Towers AB 
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      Authors: Fredrik Gullberg and Cajsa Larsson 
      Supervisor: Sharon Cullinane 
      Graduate School 
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      Keeping track of inventory by introducing a track and trace system.  
      A case study at Svenska Mässan Gothia Towers AB. 
       
      By Fredrik Gullberg and Cajsa Larsson 
       
      © FREDRIK GULLBERG and CAJSA LARSSON 
      School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg 
      Vasagatan 1, P.O. Box 610, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden 
      Institute of Industrial and Financial Management & Logistics  
       
      All rights reserved.  
      No part of this thesis may be distributed or reproduced without the written permission by the 
      authors.  
       
      Contact: me@fredrikgullberg.com; cajlars@gmail.com  
                          
            Abstract 
             
            Title: Keeping track of inventory by introducing a track and trace system. A case study at 
            Svenska Mässan Gothia Towers AB. 
             
            Thesis degree: Master’s degree Project in Logistics and Transport Management.  
             
            Authors: Fredrik Gullberg and Cajsa Larsson. 
             
            Supervisor: Sharon Cullinane. 
             
            Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether the implementation of a track and 
            trace system would result in increased warehouse control. This will be answered by conducting 
            a case study at Svenska Mässan, an exhibition and congress centre with millions of visitors per 
            year. 
             
            Research questions: (1) What impact would an implementation of a track and trace system 
            have in regard to keeping track of inventory and decreasing loss at an exhibition and congress 
            centre? (2) What are the main challenges when implementing a track and trace system? 
             
            Method: A single descriptive case study conducted at Svenska Mässan Gothia Towers AB, 
            one of northern Europe’s biggest players in the exhibition and congress industry, located in 
            Gothenburg city centre. Empirical findings from observations and semi-structured interviews 
            have been presented in a narrative style. This is followed by a thematic analysis where the 
            theoretical framework and the empirical results are combined. 
             
            Main findings: An implementation of a track and trace system would allow Svenska Mässan 
            to  increase  their  inventory  control  and  management  through  improved  visibility.  Svenska 
            Mässan would decrease their current inventory losses, increase efficiency of operations, reduce 
            resource costs in terms of labour, and reduce customer compensation performed by the After 
            Sales  department.  A  number  of  AIDC  technologies  are  compared  to  the  organisation’s 
            requirements and needs, and a combination of active and semi-passive or passive RFID tags 
            are found to be the most suitable one. There is a number of challenges believed to occur during 
            the implementation; (1) change resistance, (2) high variation of technological competencies 
            amongst operative staff, and (3) involving external contingency staff in following new routines 
            and guidelines. The authors propose a number of managerial and practical implications which 
            Svenska Mässan can pursue in order to manage the identified possible challenges.  
             
            Key words: Track and trace, warehouse management systems, inventory management, RFID.  
                                   
                                              
          Acknowledgements 
           
          We would like to express our greatest gratitude to all who have helped us during this final 
          semester of our master studies in Logistics and Transport Management. Thank you, Sharon 
          Cullinane and our peer students, that has given us insightful feedback and support throughout 
          this project. An especially warm thank you to Nicklas Höjer, our supervisor, as well all other 
          members of the Svenska Mässan Gothia Towers AB organisation for your time and support 
          during this project. Finally, we would also thank all interviewees and observation participants 
          for your valuable contribution to this thesis. 
           
           
           
           
           
                   nd
          Gothenburg 22  of May 2019 
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                                          
                  Fredrik Gullberg                  Cajsa Larsson