Global Operations at Aalborg Industries: Context, Configuration and Capabilities

The aim of this case is to describe the development of Aalborg Industries into a global company. Aalborg Industries has been an example to many companies, as it has managed to maintain a leading market position in a highly competitive and increasingly globalized marked and has managed to successfully reconfigure its operations set-up to meet new contextual conditions. This case was prepared in 2009, through a number of interviews and managers from all business functions as well as top management. The authors do not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. The authors may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality.
The case opens with an introduction to the industrial context of Aalborg Industries, followed by a description of the company, its history and global footprint. In closing, the future of the company and developments following the end of the 2009 research are described.