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1 – 10 of over 45000The aim of this work is to analyse the manufacturing strategies of the large Spanish industrial companies during the 1990s, making a comparison with the experience of American and…
Abstract
The aim of this work is to analyse the manufacturing strategies of the large Spanish industrial companies during the 1990s, making a comparison with the experience of American and other European manufacturers. To this end, and taking 1994 as a reference, this paper describes the planning process and content of the manufacturing strategies of a representative sample of the largest industrial companies in Spain, analysing, in particular, the high priority manufacturing objectives and policies maintained during the period 1992‐1993 and those foreseen for the period 1995‐1999. The information analysed has been obtained from a mail survey. The comparison of the Spanish companies with American and other European manufacturers attempts to observe how the Spanish experience is similar to that of other countries, in order to obtain interesting conclusions for the managers who may be responsible for managing industrial companies located in Spain.
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Andrea Bikfalvi, Angela Jäger and Gunter Lay
This paper aims to map the incidence of teamwork in European manufacturing industries and describe the process of teamwork diffusion over time. The impact of country, company…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to map the incidence of teamwork in European manufacturing industries and describe the process of teamwork diffusion over time. The impact of country, company size, manufacturing sector and other factors on teamwork diffusion is identified.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on data from 3,522 companies gathered by the European Manufacturing Survey covering ten European countries with a common survey tool.
Findings
Overall, six out of ten manufacturers with more than 20 employees have implemented teamwork in production. Furthermore, the authors show that implementation rates vary significantly by country, firm size and, to a lesser extent, sector of the company's activity. R&D expenditure, product complexity, innovation capability, strategy and to a lesser extent international competition and supply chain position create significant differences between firms opting for teamwork as a work organization practice and companies neglecting it.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitations of the paper derive from the concept of EMS as a multi-purpose survey and the lack of adequate representation across European countries.
Originality/value
The value of this research is the ability to offer recent, international and relevant figures about teamwork implementation and diffusion. Furthermore the data set makes it possible for the first time to describe the process of teamwork diffusion over time.
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Elena Pessot, Andrea Zangiacomi, Cinzia Battistella, Valerie Rocchi, Alessandro Sala and Marco Sacco
This paper aims to study the extent of the transformation of European manufacturing companies towards the factory of the future (FoF) and related concepts, e.g. Industry 4.0 and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the extent of the transformation of European manufacturing companies towards the factory of the future (FoF) and related concepts, e.g. Industry 4.0 and digitalisation.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative survey design was used to investigate the areas, patterns and elements for implementing FoF. A total of 92 responses from manufacturing firms of Alpine regions were collected and analysed, followed by in-depth interviews with a subset of respondents to identify common challenges, drivers and opportunities for the transformation.
Findings
Manufacturing companies are gaining awareness on their needs and gaps in the FoF path, the implications on business strategy and the rates of innovation and technology adoption. Nevertheless, they still need to shape their organisational structures (e.g. from highly centralised to more collaborative ones) and nurture their managerial capabilities in operations and supply chain management, and customer relationships, only partially based on FoF technologies.
Research limitations/implications
This study aims to contribute to recent literature and practice of FoF (and related concepts) by depicting a picture of the possible areas of intervention, main issues and gaps (especially in terms of skills, supply chain and customer relationships) of manufacturing companies in their digital transformation. The qualitative research design and its scope represent the main limitations.
Originality/value
This paper provides a systemic overview for FoF by encompassing the technological, strategic, managerial and organisational perspectives of digitalisation in manufacturing and integrating the insights from a multi-sectorial and multi-dimensional analysis.
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Arnoud De Meyer and Kasra Ferdows
The integration of information systems within manufacturing, and between manufacturing and other functions, is a growing concern. A survey of 560 manufacturing companies in…
Abstract
The integration of information systems within manufacturing, and between manufacturing and other functions, is a growing concern. A survey of 560 manufacturing companies in Europe, North America and Japan reveals that management is paying increasing attention to this issue, though it is given slightly less priority in Japan. European respondents appear to favour a top‐down approach to the integration of the various information sub‐systems, while North American and Japanese respondents support the bottom‐up approach. North Americans are more concerned with control of materials flow when developing systems, the Europeans with demand management, and the Japanese with technical and engineering issues.
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Gunter Lay, Giacomo Copani, Angela Jäger and Sabine Biege
Case study findings increasingly indicate that the implementation of service‐based business concepts is becoming a global business trend. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a…
Abstract
Purpose
Case study findings increasingly indicate that the implementation of service‐based business concepts is becoming a global business trend. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a broad European survey to understand the extent to which service infusion has already deeply affected manufacturing industries and the factors influencing service infusion.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 3,376 companies participating in the European Manufacturing Survey were included in an evaluation of service offerings and service sales. Multivariate data analyzes were used to develop statistically relevant conclusions regarding service infusion and the factors influencing it.
Findings
Whereas, the vast majority of companies surveyed offer services, the turnover generated by services was still low, and the adopted service strategies did not seem fully developed. The most significant determinant of service sales was the breadth of services offered. Other relevant explanatory factors included the characteristics of the type of products sold, whereas the position in the supply chain did not seem to affect service infusion.
Research limitations/implications
Using large‐scale survey data, this analysis provides a representative picture of service infusion in manufacturing industries and related causal relationships. Further qualitative research should develop interpretations of the relationships found in our quantitative analysis; as such, subsequent quantitative analyzes are necessary.
Originality/value
As most previous studies on service infusion are based on case study reports, the value of this paper comes from its use of a broad empirical database. Thus, the paper supports, confirms, and generalizes previous qualitative findings.
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Sergio Palacios-Gazules, Gerusa Giménez and Rudi De Castro
In recent years, the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies as a way of increasing productivity has attracted the attention of the manufacturing industry. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies as a way of increasing productivity has attracted the attention of the manufacturing industry. This study aims to investigate the relationship between Industry 4.0 technologies and lean tools (LTs) by measuring how the internalisation of LTs influences the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and how the synergy between them helps improve productivity in European manufacturing firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Results from 1,298 responses were used to analyse linear regression and study the correlation between the use of LTs and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Findings
Results show that the companies analysed tend to implement more Industry 4.0 technologies when their level of lean internalisation is high.
Originality/value
This study provides useful information for managers of manufacturing firms by showing the correlation between LT internalisation and Industry 4.0 technologies, corroborating that optimal implementation of these technologies is preceded by a high level of LT internalisation. Furthermore, although there are studies showing the relationship between LTs and Industry 4.0 technologies, none consider the intensity of their implementation.
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Érico Marcon, Marlon Soliman, Wolfgang Gerstlberger and Alejandro G. Frank
As the level of implementation of Industry 4.0 increases, misalignments between adopted technologies and organizational factors may result in benefits below expected. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
As the level of implementation of Industry 4.0 increases, misalignments between adopted technologies and organizational factors may result in benefits below expected. This paper aims to analyze how organizational factors can contribute to a higher level of adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. The paper uses a sociotechnical perspective lens to achieve this aim.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 231 manufacturing companies in Denmark, a leading country in Industry 4.0 readiness, the paper analyzes through cluster analysis and logistic regression whether the development of four sociotechnical dimensions – that is, Social, Technical, Work Organization and Environmental factors – in these companies can benefit the achievement of higher levels of Industry 4.0 technology adoption.
Findings
The results show that companies focused on the development of sociotechnical aspects generally present higher Industry 4.0 adoption levels. However, some sociotechnical factors are less supportive than others.
Originality/value
Based on these results, practitioners can plan the adoption of advanced technologies, using a systemic organizational view. This study provides evidence on a growing field with few empirical studies available. The paper contributes by providing an analysis of a leading country in Industry 4.0 implementation, presenting a systemic view on technology adoption in the Industry 4.0 context.
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Arnoud De Meyer and Kasra Ferdows
Today, to improve productivity in manufacturing, one has a largevariety of improvement programmes at one′s disposal. Zero defects, valueanalysis, just‐in‐time, manufacturing lead…
Abstract
Today, to improve productivity in manufacturing, one has a large variety of improvement programmes at one′s disposal. Zero defects, value analysis, just‐in‐time, manufacturing lead time reduction are just a few of a long list of potential action programmes. Their real impact is not always clearly described, and manufacturing managers often have to start implementation on a basis of belief. In this article we use the database of the European Manufacturing Futures Survey to explore some of the medium‐term effects of these improvement programmes on manufacturing performance. The conclusions show that there are no simple cause‐effect relationships between single improvement programmes and manufacturing performance. Tenacity in implementation is required since some programmes have negative effects in the short term, but can have positive effects in the long term.
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Per Hilletofth and Olli-Pekka Hilmola
Globalization and the importance of emerging markets have increased the pressure of high-cost manufacturing locations to sustain operations. However, there are still some…
Abstract
Purpose
Globalization and the importance of emerging markets have increased the pressure of high-cost manufacturing locations to sustain operations. However, there are still some countries in which manufacturing is prospering despite high costs (like Germany, Sweden and Switzerland). This study examines seven competitive priorities through 24 different capabilities, using a case survey of four manufacturing companies located in Sweden. This study aims to develop a contemporary understanding from vital priorities and capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
A case survey was conducted in four different-sized manufacturing companies in Sweden during the autumn of 2018. In total, the survey attracted 89 responses. Respondents were mainly middle managers and other management team members.
Findings
In general, companies assess the importance of manufacturing capabilities higher than performance and improvement. The authors’ analysis shows that quality priority through product and process capabilities is ranked highest in terms of importance, performance and improvement. In addition, delivery capability shows a similarity with quality. At the other end, being lowest ranked are typically different flexibility and advertising capabilities. This study demonstrates with correlation analysis that most often capabilities have a positive correlation in terms of their importance, performance and improvement needs. Some capabilities show potential correlations across importance, performance and improvement.
Research limitations/implications
This research is limited to one high-cost environment and to four companies within that environment. Further research should examine the impact of the pandemic era on manufacturing priorities and capabilities.
Originality/value
In general, case surveys have relatively rarely been used in management studies. This research offers an alternative and deeper perspective from high-cost country manufacturing, as the responses are from numerous persons in management positions.
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Malin Johansson and Jan Olhager
The purpose of this paper is to present recent empirical results concerning offshoring and backshoring of manufacturing from and to Sweden, to increase the understanding of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present recent empirical results concerning offshoring and backshoring of manufacturing from and to Sweden, to increase the understanding of manufacturing relocation in an international context. In particular, extent, geographies, type of production, drivers, and benefits of moving manufacturing in both directions are investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on survey data from 373 manufacturing plants. The same set of questions is used for both offshoring and backshoring between 2010 and 2015, which allows similarities and differences in decision-making and results between the two relocation directions to be identified.
Findings
There are many significant differences between offshoring and backshoring projects. Labour cost is the dominating factor in offshoring, as driver and benefit, while backshoring is related to many drivers and benefits, such as quality, lead-time, flexibility, access to skills and knowledge, access to technology, and proximity to R&D. This is also reflected in the type of production that is relocated; labour-intensive production is offshored and complex production is backshored.
Research limitations/implications
Plants that have both offshored and backshored think and act differently than plants that have only offshored or backshored, which is why it is important to distinguish between these plant types in the context of manufacturing relocations.
Practical implications
The experience of Swedish manufacturing plants reported here can be used as a point of reference for internal manufacturing operations.
Originality/value
The survey design allows a unique comparison between offshoring and backshoring activity. Since Swedish firms in general have been quite active in rearranging their manufacturing footprint and have experience from movements in both directions, it is an appropriate geographical area to study in this context.
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