The managerial issues related to transferring shop floor knowledge in manufacturing relocation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the specific practices of management in the dispatching unit and to identify mechanisms for supporting transfer of shop floor knowledge embedded in operating manufacturing equipment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies an inductive and a case study approach for exploring three empirical cases that represent different manufacturing facility relocation processes and differences in the applied managerial practices.

Findings

The paper identifies two important gaps in international production literature when firms relocate equipment to other sites; a time gap (from dismantling to re-assembly of production facilities) and a space gap (from the current to the new site abroad). These gaps are important for understanding why relocation processes are difficult and what management can do to facilitate such processes.

Practical implications

The paper identifies four issues that management faces in the dispatching context when relocating manufacturing facilities.

Originality/value

The paper gives new insights to a limited literature of shop floor knowledge transfer when relocating manufacturing facilities.

Citation

Praest Knudsen, M. and Skov Madsen, E. (2014), "The managerial issues related to transferring shop floor knowledge in manufacturing relocation", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 34 No. 11, pp. 1389-1416. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-01-2013-0044