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For the plant manager there are many suggested remedies for increased plant productivity. Detailed survey data from 555 factories, principally in the US, Europe and Korea, are used to examine the factors that contribute to productivity. Regression analysis is employed with five distinct measures of productivity and productivity gain and the results indicate a number of key variables are responsible. Many similarities are reported across the three samples analysed, but three factors stand out: improved flow of materials; investment in new technology; and human resource initiatives.

The apparel industry is truly global in nature. Apparel manufacturing being labour intensive has been migrating from the high wage developed world to developing countries. However, the developing countries will need to have efficient manufacturing operations if they are to retain their competitiveness in the apparel industry. This paper attempts to evaluate the productivity levels achieved by Indian apparel manufacturers vis‐à‐vis their counterparts from the rest of the world; to ascertain factors associated with productivity performance; and to recommend strategies for productivity improvement.

Some manufacturing processes generate extreme temperatures, noise and other irritating environmental conditions. These environmental factors can have a negative impact on workers’ performance and health. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of temperature, noise and lighting on factory workers’ productivity and day-to-day health in a rubber compound manufacturing plant.

Secondary data on productivity, measurements of factory environmental conditions, and records of medical advice and treatments over a period of three months were used in this study. Causal analysis was performed using statistical techniques ANOVA and regression analysis in SPSS statistical package.

The results revealed that higher levels of temperature and noise inside the factory can cause lower productivity levels. High temperature may not only reduce the productivity but also contribute to illnesses or heat-stress symptoms such as headaches. The results further suggested that both noise and lighting level do not have a statistically significant impact on workers’ health. No statistical evidence was found on lighting level having an impact on workers’ productivity.

The study was particularly focused on a rubber compound manufacturing plant. However, the results were consistent with the results obtained in similar studies which focused on leather and shoe industry and automobile assembly industry.

The impact of environmental conditions on workers’ performance and health has been studied with respect to few industries and regions. This is the first of that kind carried out in Sri Lanka. Clear evidence of productivity losses and health impacts caused by high temperatures, raises the need for improving the working conditions.

IN the newspapers, on the radio and television railways have been a topic on which differing views have been expressed. There have been suggestions that a Government subsidy might ease the problems.

Looks at the literature to date which has indicated some successful cases of using traditional economic analysis techniques in justifying factory automation. Points out, however, that strategic implications and integration effects of factory control systems are beyond the scope of currently available justification schemes. Presents a new approach to justification of advanced factory management systems, namely activity‐based costing (ABC). Introduces frameworks of typical advanced factory management systems and briefly discusses basic concepts, definitions and current applications of ABC. Enumerates the need for this new justification approach, the hierarchy of factory operating expenses and steps to implement ABC in acquiring advanced factory management systems. Concludes with a case study example to illustrate the application of this new approach.

The objective of performance measurement has changed over the past few decades. Traditional performance measures based on productivity are no longer appropriate or representative of the information needs of today’s competitive global market. Alternative performance systems have been proposed that range from time as the basis of all measures to the integration of a variety of performance measures. Reviews and analyses the limitations of traditional approaches to performance measurement as well as the emerging trends in performance measurement system development. Reveals that the basis of performance measurement is changing and that there are certain characteristics that are necessary in order to produce information that is relevant for improving world‐class manufacturing performance.

The internationalization of business has grown the production value chains and created performance challenges for industrial production. Industry 4.0, the digital transformation of industrial processes, promises to deliver performance improvements through smart functionalities. This study investigates how digital transformation translates to performance gain by adopting a systems perspective to drive smartness.

This study uses qualitative research to collect data on the lived experiences of digital transformation practitioners for theory development. It uses semi-structured interviews with industry experts and applies the Gioia methodology for analysis.

The study determined that enterprise smartness is an organizational capability developed by digital transformation, it is a function of integration and the enabler of organizational performance gains in the Industry 4.0 context. The study determined that performance gains are experienced in productivity, sustainability, safety and customer experience, which represents performance metrics for Industry 4.0.

This study contributes a model that inserts smartness in the linkage between digital transformation and organizational outcomes to the digital transformation and production management literature.

The study indicates that digital transformation programs should focus on developing smartness rather than technology implementations, which must be considered an enabling activity.

Existing studies recognized the positive impact of technology on performance in industrial production. The study addresses a missing link in the Industry 4.0 value creation process. It adopts a systems perspective to establish the role of smartness in translating technology use to performance outcomes. Smart capabilities have been the critical missing link in the literature on harnessing digital transformation in organizations. The study advances theory development by contributing an Industry 4.0 value model that establishes a link between digital technologies, smartness and organizational performance.

The purpose of this paper is to document the extent to which the relative performance of plants varies over an extended period of time, with some plants performing persistently well and sister plants performing persistently poorly. It examines why this phenomenon occurs.

It does so through interviews and surveys of senior manufacturing executives who oversee multiple plants.

The interview and survey results are consistent with one another and point to the importance of the “mentality” of a plant's management and workforce: how they think about the factory and its operations. The nature of that mentality is explored.

This paper captures what the “grey hairs” of manufacturing think of factory performance and how to pursue it.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an argument supporting the growth of online outsourcing, which will exponentially increase in the coming years with the spread of internet availability to the less-developed regions of the world. In addition, this paper stresses the role of human decision-making in fostering this growth, rather than promoting inhibitory policies because of nationalism or fear of change.

First, globalization and the three “waves” of outsourcing are discussed. Next, the economic principles guiding online outsourcing (disintermediation, the rise of global internet connectivity and the benefits of output-based pay over input-based pay) are discussed. After explaining how artificial intelligence will complement rather than replace human laborers, a case study and evidence are provided. Then, suggestions for government policies going forward, including skill development and education are provided. Finally, the debate that will inevitably emerge regarding online worker benefits is introduced.

Evidence points toward the growth of online outsourcing and the resulting increased efficiency and gains through this type of trade. The increase in freelance workers and their earnings, the investments of Google and Facebook to develop internet capabilities in less-developed regions and the reducing costs of technology (such as laptops) provide support for this argument (Elance, 2013; Forbes, 2014; Pofeldt, 2015). Finally, a case study provides evidence illustrating how individuals may gain from these advances.

This paper contributes to the literature by providing a compelling argument for the upcoming transition to increased efficiency in work through online outsourcing. Technological advances will allow the modern worker to delegate his/her mundane tasks so that he/she is free to focus on more pressing issues. This shift will multiply the domestic and foreign labor markets, creating opportunities that have not been available to this point. As this transition is not inevitable, this paper further outlines suggestions for policymakers to ensure maximized gains in the future.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between building smart factories in manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and firm performance and the moderating effect according to product complexity and company size.

Data were collected from 206 companies selected in the list of SMEs, which had built smart factories, provided by the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center in Korea. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.

First, production automation and big data utilization are associated positively with productivity, but not significantly with export performance. Second, supply chain integration is associated positively with both productivity and export performance. Third, product complexity moderates negatively the relationship of productivity with each of production automation, big data utilization and supply chain integration while moderating positively the relationship between supply chain integration and export performance. Finally, company size does not moderate significantly the relationship between productivity or export performance with any of production automation, big data utilization and supply chain integration.

This study contributes theoretically to literature by demonstrating the usefulness of building smart factories and suggesting how SMEs build a smart factory to enhance productivity and export performance from a business perspective. Moreover, this study contributes practically by proposing that SMEs should put priority on supply chain integration over production automation and big data utilization and execute different strategies of building smart factories depending on product complexity.