Title: Factory 2000 plus

Authors: John Parnaby

Addresses: Crest Edge, 4 Beechnut Lane, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2NN, UK

Abstract: The period 1960-1993 was an intensive learning period for Directors, Managers and Engineers in Western manufacturing businesses as the competitive power of the Toyota Production System started to wreak havoc in their market places. Following this period, a more intelligent appreciation has emerged of the underlying elements which must be integrated to create a competitive manufacturing business. New breeds of Strategic Business Manager and Business Systems Engineer now exist in industry, capable of selecting and applying the necessary interlocking building blocks of new forms of modular team organisation and the supporting methodologies, tools and techniques, within a value-adding strategy framework. This modern modular approach is described in an introductory way and will be useful to intelligent young managers who wish to avoid the commoditisation and crude cost-cutting methods of their predecessors. Full application of the proven approach described leads to the healthy development of short, medium and long-term economic value-added growth so essential to long term business survival.

Keywords: business process improvement; competitiveness improvement; economic value-added; manufacturing methodology; manufacturing systems design; systems approach.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2002.001442

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2002 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.158-169

Published online: 03 Jul 2003 *

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