ELEKTRONİK ÜRETİM SEKTÖRÜNDE DİJİTAL DÖNÜŞÜMÜN TEDARİK ZİNCİRİ SÜREÇLERİ ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Digital transformation has become a prominent topic in literature. However, quantitative empirical studies focusing on quality performance and supply chain interaction remain limited, particularly in the electronics manufacturing sector. This thesis examines the effects of data-driven digital transformation applications on quality-oriented performance indicators and supply chain management through a project-based case study using real factory data. Digital transformation is addressed not merely as the adoption of new technologies, but as the restructuring of production processes through data-driven traceability, decision-support mechanisms, and continuous improvement practices. Operational data from electronics production lines were used to compare pre- and post-digitalization periods based on quality indicators such as rework rates, defect density, process stability, and traceability. The analyses were conducted within the framework of production and quality management. The research was structured as a single-case study based primarily on secondary organizational data and a quantitative analytical approach. Performance indicators were evaluated through before-and-after comparisons, percentage changes, trend analyses, and sector-based comparisons. For quality indicators with monthly observations, segmented linear regression was also employed to support the comparative assessment. The indicators were considered both as operational outputs and as tools supporting managerial decision-making. Methodological and managerial experience gained from European Union-funded digital transformation and industrial R&D projects was utilized in defining KPIs, ensuring data integrity, and establishing the performance evaluation framework. The findings indicate that digital transformation applications are associated with measurable improvements in quality performance, increased process transparency, and more effective management of supply chain-related production decisions. Furthermore, quality-oriented digitalization was observed to support responsiveness to customer demands and customer acquisition processes. This thesis contributes to the literature by demonstrating the tangible effects of digital transformation on quality performance in electronics manufacturing using factory-level data and by providing practice-oriented managerial implications for production and operations management.