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The importance of responding to time‐based competitive pressures has prompted US manufacturers to emphasize time‐based performance and deploy strategic action programs aimed at cycle time reduction. This study examines time‐based competition among first tier suppliers to the Big Three in North America. A comprehensive set of time‐based performance measures is defined and time‐related action programs associated with world class manufacturing strategies are identified. Relationships between time‐related action programs, time‐based performance, and overall firm performance are examined. The study shows that time‐based performance significantly affects overall firm performance and that manufacturing lead time is especially critical in the automotive industry. The study also identifies strategic action programs that result in improved performance on various dimensions of time‐based performance.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of a new convenience‐enhancing service at the interface between retailers and consumers: time‐based delivery of parcels. The service allows consumers to choose a preferred time slot for a parcel to be delivered. This convenience‐enhancing logistics service may be attractive for consumers, retailers, and logistics service providers. The authors provide insights on consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for this service and important drivers of its attractiveness.

This paper measures and analyzes the attractiveness and antecedents, the WTP, and the overall revenue potential of this service based on an empirical analysis. A contingent valuation approach was adopted to measure the WTP and the level of usage.

Research results suggest that the level of availability at home and the working hours per week are important antecedents of the perceived attractiveness of the service. Furthermore, consumers who perceive this convenience‐enhancing service as attractive, represent a market segment that has significant revenue potential.

Based on the analysis, important managerial insights are derived that can guide logistics service providers and retailers in their decision to implement such a novel service.

The paper enhances the scope of convenience services, providing empirical data for a time‐based delivery service.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between time-based manufacturing competence (TBMC), time-based competitiveness, time-based manufacturing capability, and the performance of SMEs engaged in the steel minimill industry in the USA.

This study was based on an empirical investigation of manufacturing firms in the steel minimill industry in the USA. The sample of firms was provided by the US Association of Iron and Steel Engineers. In order to obtain valid and reliable measures of the variables, previously validated scales were used to measure all variables. The primary data for the study were collected from a self-administered mail survey of 137 SMEs with the sample consisting of 71 SMEs indicating a response rate of 52 percent.

Statistically significant positive relationships were found between all independent variables and performance. The results also indicate that the high performers have a higher TBMC than the low performers. The findings further confirm the assertion in the manufacturing strategy literature which states that time, as a strategic factor, is a source of competitive advantage.

From a methodological perspective, a potential concern may be that the measures are all self-reported. Consequently, the relationships tested may be susceptible to the influence of common method variance.

TBMC enables SMEs to offer high-quality products at low cost and in a timely manner. This reflects the value of the positive relationship between TBMC and business performance.

This study’s finding identifies the need for time-based competition. The literature suggests that the strategic focus on time enables firms to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage. Nevertheless, this suggestion has been based on conceptual rather than empirical research. The results of this study provide empirical support for that suggestion with respect to SMEs.

Competition, technological advancement and the sophistication of consumers’ needs have led to the evolution of competitive paradigms, in which, time‐based competition apparently has emerged as the competitive paradigm of the 1990s. While much has been written about the paradigm since it was first highlighted in the late 1980s, no comprehensive literature review is currently available. Seeks to provide such a review of the literature. Categorizes the existing literature into four broad classes: descriptive literature, managerial implications, case studies and applications, and mathematical modelling. Presents the key ideas and the associated literature to the reader as a guide to the total topic of time‐based competition. Reviews also the theoretic time‐based modelling literature, and so highlights the current status and limitations of this literature. Provides the motivation for further research to be carried out within the realm of time‐based modelling.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between customer order lead time (COLT) and the price sensitivity of an electrical equipment manufacturer company. In consequence, it examines two research questions in terms of COLT, price and profitability level and to ensure the validity and practical justification of these research questions.

In this research the authors have used a case study approach where three business measures, namely COLT, price and the profitability level of a case company were investigated and analyzed critically. These measures were implemented through four different customer segments with two production lines of the case company. Data were collected from the company's order delivery database from the period 2006 to 2008. In addition, different experimental data were collected through interviewing and reviewing the results of the data analysis with the unit managers.

In this paper the authors have observed the correlation between the price, profit and COLT with all four customer segments in both the production lines of the case company. From the case data, the authors concluded that the customer did not pay more when the COLT is shorter than with the average time. It is also noticeable that the profit margin is higher for the case company to handle COLT with shorter lead time than the average order delivery lead time.

More case examples might be helpful to motivate the managers to accept the research outcomes.

The concept of the company's COLT in relation to the price and profitability level supports organizational managers in their decision‐making process in terms of productivity level and the company's growth. It will motivate the managers to make tradeoffs among various developmental measures.

This paper implemented a unique approach for measuring the significant level of price and profitability level over COLT. From the outcomes of this study, it is observed that the price correlated positively with the COLT and has a direct and significant impact on it. When the price is increased the COLT is also increased. It is also noticed that the products of the case company which offered shorter lead times were on average also more profitable, even though there were no significant differences in average pricing between the customer segments.

The purpose of this paper is to provide comprehensive information on preventive maintenance (PM) planning and methods used in the industry in order to achieve an effective maintenance system.

The literature review is organized in a way that provides the general overview of the researches done in the PM. This paper discusses the literatures that had been reviewed on four main topics, which are the holistic view of maintenance policies, PM planning, PM planning concept and PM planning-based in developing optimal planning in executing PM actions.

PM policy is one of the original proactive techniques that has been used since the start of researches on maintenance system. Review of the methods presented in this paper shows that most researches analyse effectiveness using artificial intelligence, simulation, mathematical formulation, matrix formation, critical analysis and multi-criteria method. While in practice, PM activities were either planned based on cost, time or failure. Research trends on planning and methods for PM show that the variation of approaches used over the year from early 1990s until today.

Research about PM is known to be extensively conducted and majority of companies applied the policy in their production line. However, most analysis and method suggested in published literatures were done based on mathematical computation rather than focussing on solution to real problems in the industry. This normally would lead to the problems in understanding by the practitioner. Therefore, this paper presented researches on PM planning and suggested on the methods that are practical, simple and effective for application in the real industry.

The originality of this paper comes from its detail analysis of PM planning in term of its research focus and also direction for application. Extensive reviews on the methods adopted in relation to PM planning based on the planning-based such as cost-based, time-based and failure-based were also provided.

British and American manufacturers continue the struggle to remain competitive, yet there remains a vast amount of unused energy and potential trapped by the inadequate organization of resources. Using a time‐based strategy, the value‐adding capability of the organization can be measured and constraints identified. This time‐based framework can guide investments and improvement actions whilst retaining links to an overall quick response/improved customer service strategy. A method of reducing throughput time has been developed, which separates non‐value – and value‐adding operations. Results from the electrical switchgear industry show that, when throughput time is reduced, stock of materials, labour efficiency, production planning and customer service can all be improved to reduce total costs.

Manufacturing organizations are now being exposed to world class value‐adding standards; therefore restructuring frameworks are required that identify weakness and guide investment. A time‐based functional model has been developed which is capable of analysing the supply chain and all internal value‐adding operations concerned with total input/output conversion. This model can guide investment and restructuring actions to reduce total throughput time and thus total manufacturing costs. Application in a just‐in‐time environment in the electrical switchgear industry in the UK is currently underway to develop the framework further. Discusses details of reductions in throughput time and stock holding.

Among the most consistent predictors of work‐family conflict for working parents are the number of hours worked, job role autonomy, and degree of support managers offer parents. Yet, little is known about the unique work experiences of lesbian women in terms of work‐family conflict. This paper seeks to identify correlates of work‐family conflict, specifically work interference with family (WIF), among lesbian mothers and identifies the role that being “out” at work plays in their experience of WIF.

A survey of 58 working lesbian mothers engaged in long‐term, same‐sex relationships that they categorized as a family was used to collect data on constructs related to work‐family conflict and related variables. The vast majority of the sample were managers or professionals.

Analyses indicate that increased job role autonomy, fewer hours worked, and increased managerial support are associated with less overall WIF. Additionally, the extent to which participants are “out” at work is associated with reduced WIF, and explains variance beyond the other constructs examined.

Managers can play an essential role in helping reduce WIF among lesbian women via formal steps including offering written support for non‐discrimination policies and benefits for domestic partners. Managers can also take more informal steps such as role modeling acceptance. Finally, managers can modify features of the work environment and jobs themselves.

Being “out” at work can be advantageous for lesbian workers as a strategy for ameliorating WIF. Managers are in a position to make this kind of disclosure possible.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of integrating ISO 9000 and total quality management (TQM) on operational performance of manufacturing organizations and their journey toward achieving world-class manufacturing (WCM) status.

The authors used a conceptual model and its empirical validation based on a sample of 2,961 responses from one developing and three developed economies. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test five main hypotheses.

Plants that integrate ISO 9000 and TQM progressed faster toward achieving WCM status and have better operational performance in terms of quality management, inventory management, time-based performance, and competitiveness.

The sample from the developing economy includes only 254 responses, while the one from the three developed economies includes 2,907 responses.

Findings of this study have many implications for both academic and practitioners. These findings encourage practitioners to consider ISO 9000 and TQM as complementary, not substitutes.

Developing economies should follow the footsteps of developed economies in considering quality as a competitive advantage in global markets.

The paper addresses in a unique and unprecedented way the synergistic impact of ISO 9000 and TQM on operational performance. The study is the first in its kind to include responses from both developing and developed economies. The development of the synergy index was never addressed before.