Search

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2005.11.006 Byline: Daniel Vazquez-Bustelo, Lucia Avella Keywords: Agile manufacturing; New paradigm; Spain; Case study research; Hypotheses Abstract: Changes in the business environment are leading firms to adopt a new production model termed agile manufacturing. This moves away from the traditional mass production paradigm and focuses on manufacturing highly customised products as and when customers require them. In this paper, we present an initial approach to agile manufacturing based on case studies on four factories in Spain. Despite different activities, products and production processes, similar trends were found in all four in the development of agile manufacturing. Based on the conclusions of the case studies, an agile manufacturing conceptual model has been drawn up and a number of hypotheses inferred. This work confirms the suitability of case study methodology in the early stages of research, especially for drawing up hypotheses. The study presented here is of an exploratory nature and the conclusions drawn from it offer possible routes for future research in the field of agile manufacturing. Author Affiliation: Departamento de Administracion de Empresas y Contabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Oviedo (Spain), Avda. Cristo s/n, 33071 Oviedo, Spain

Changes in the business environment are leading firms to adopt a new production model termed agile manufacturing. This moves away from the traditional mass production paradigm and focuses on manufacturing highly customised products as and when customers require them. In this paper, we present an initial approach to agile manufacturing based on case studies on four factories in Spain. Despite different activities, products and production processes, similar trends were found in all four in the development of agile manufacturing. Based on the conclusions of the case studies, an agile manufacturing conceptual model has been drawn up and a number of hypotheses inferred. This work confirms the suitability of case study methodology in the early stages of research, especially for drawing up hypotheses. The study presented here is of an exploratory nature and the conclusions drawn from it offer possible routes for future research in the field of agile manufacturing. Keywords: Agile manufacturing; New paradigm; Spain; Case study research; Hypotheses

A study proposes and tests a multidimensional construct of production competence and provides additional empirical evidence of its impact on business performance. The study validates the production competence construct in terms of five dimensions of cost, flexibility, quality, delivery and environmental protection competence, and also provides evidence that production competence has a major impact on business performance.

An integrated conceptual model is developed to explain the various consequences and factors that affect the agile manufacturing industry in Spain. An integrate application of various agile manufacturing practices is shown to lead to better performance of the company, even in a turbulent environment.

Types of manufacturing strategies implemented by major Spanish manufacturing companies are compared with the strategies of American and European industrial companies in order to offer an international area of reference to Spanish managers. Based on a mail survey, the study takes 1994 as a year of reference and looks at the development of policies and objectives from 1992 until 1999 in major Spanish companies.