Development of digital product catalogue for enabling agility in a manufacturing organisation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the application feasibility of information technology (IT) for achieving agility in a typical manufacturing organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature study was conducted. It was found out that IT is not fully utilised for achieving agility in certain traditional manufacturing sectors. An implementation study was conducted in an Indian electronics switches manufacturing organisation to identify the causes of this insufficient utilisation. Finally, a feedback session was conducted to explore the practitioners' views of this research.

Findings

The outcome of this research indicated the feasibility of adopting IT for infusing agility in contemporary manufacturing organisations.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted in only one electronics switches manufacturing organisation situated in India. This may lead to the impression that the findings from this research may not represent all manufacturing organisations. However, the environment prevailing in the above organisation is similar to that which is prevailing in any other contemporary manufacturing organisation. Hence, the outcome of this research could represent other manufacturing organisations situated throughout the world.

Practical implications

The research reported in this paper has shown the way of adopting IT for achieving agility and examined the hindrances that have to be overcome in future to integrate IT in practical scenarios.

Originality/value

Significant researches have been pursued in agile manufacturing and IT fields. However, no researcher has attempted to examine the practicality of adopting IT for infusing agility in a practical scenario. Hence, this work is original and valuable.

Citation

Vinodh, S., Arvind, K.R. and Rajanayagam, D. (2011), "Development of digital product catalogue for enabling agility in a manufacturing organisation", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 143-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/17260531111151032