Vic Gilgeous and Maria Gilgeous
Fieldwork in several “best practice” companies showed that the important performance objectives sought to fulfil each company’s manufacturing strategy were achieved through the…
Abstract
Fieldwork in several “best practice” companies showed that the important performance objectives sought to fulfil each company’s manufacturing strategy were achieved through the use of initiatives and supporting enablers. A manufacturing excellence framework shows how these initiatives and enablers combine to support manufacturing excellence. This work explores the validity and usefulness of this framework by means of a postal survey conducted across a wide base of manufacturing companies in the UK. The nature of the questionnaire is outlined together with the results from the analysis of the data obtained from the questionnaire. The results show the framework will contribute significantly to manufacturing excellence. Also when the framework is used to identify those initiatives that are crucial to the fulfilment of the manufacturing strategy then the company’s overall business strategy is more effectively executed.
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Vic Gilgeous and Maria Gilgeous
The role of maufacturing within the organisation, world class manufacturing (WCM) and manufacturing strategy are outlined. The need for a practical method to establish the steps…
Abstract
The role of maufacturing within the organisation, world class manufacturing (WCM) and manufacturing strategy are outlined. The need for a practical method to establish the steps required for the implementation of excellence within manufacturing is identified. Focus is on pilot studies conducted at “best practice” companies to establish the existence of a generic process that maufacturing companies can follow in order to become excellent. The knowledge obtained is used to develop a framework for pursuing manufacturing excellence. The framework shows how initiatives and their enablers combine to directly link the strategic level of the organisation down to those activities at the operating level of the business which contribute most to manufacturing excellence.
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Afonso Fleury and Maria Tereza Fleury
One of the key features of the new economy seems to be the change from individual to collective efficiency: the joint performance of systems of networked enterprises. That…
Abstract
One of the key features of the new economy seems to be the change from individual to collective efficiency: the joint performance of systems of networked enterprises. That movement has an international dimension mainly related to the new strategies of transnational corporations. from the perspective of developing countries important changes might be taking place, as a consequence of the positioning of their firms in that new interorganisational networking. This is the focus of this study. An analytical model was developed for the assessment of which industrial segment shows the potential to be an international player for having the required organisational competencies. The conceptual framework was built around the idea that participation in an interorganisational network depends on the competencies built by each firm and influences the conditions for strategy formulation. A survey about the recent evolution of industry in Brazil was prepared. The outcomes reveal the relative position of the Brazilian firms in international networks, what leads to an overall picture of the competitiveness of local industry.
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Arzu Karaman Akgul, Sitki Gozlu and Ekrem Tatoglu
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the causal links among operations strategy (OS), environmental dynamism (ED) and firm performance (FP) within the context of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the causal links among operations strategy (OS), environmental dynamism (ED) and firm performance (FP) within the context of a key emerging economy, Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on a structured questionnaire, data for the study was collected from a sample of 211 firms that are listed in the database of the Turkey’s largest 1,000 manufacturing firms. The research framework was tested using partial least squares method, which is a variance-based structural equation modeling approach.
Findings
The results indicate that ED is positively and significantly related to OS dimensions. ED is also found to have a strong and positive influence on FP. Some strong support has also been found regarding the effect of OS on FP.
Research limitations/implications
The study’s narrow focus on Turkish companies precludes the generalization of findings to other emerging countries as well as other sectors that may benefit from OS. Also, the collection of data from a single respondent in each firm might be a cause for possible response bias.
Practical implications
This study provides managers with a useful tool for evaluating the efficiency of their OS relative to their competitors in dynamic business environments. Moreover, the findings of this study are envisaged to aid company managers in their endeavors to craft and execute successful strategies where appropriate environmental considerations and new operations capabilities should be incorporated to their broader strategic plans.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this study stems from its examination of the causal links among OS, ED and FP within the context of a key emerging economy, Turkey.