Title: Agile manufacturing enablers for Finnish steel products network

Authors: Amol Gore, Harri Haapasalo, Teemu Tahtinen

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FIN-90014, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FIN-90014, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FIN-90014, Finland

Abstract: The strategy of agile manufacturing has been proposed to enable manufacturing enterprises maintain their competitive advantages. This paper presents the results of a study that aims to identify the agile manufacturing enablers of competitive advantage that can be deployed collectively as a means of remaining competitive and profitable in markets characterised by rapid changes. The survey research methodology was employed and exploratory factor analysis was conducted. As building blocks for agile manufacturing, the resource competencies have been identified from range of current practices in companies and tested for significant impacts on competitive and business performance objectives including customer satisfaction, delivery performance, profitability, performance relative to competitors and market share.

Keywords: agile manufacturing enablers; agile networks; business performance; competitiveness; collaboration; steelNET II; Finland; steel products network; steel industry; customer satisfaction; delivery performance; profitability; market share.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2009.023541

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2009 Vol.4 No.3, pp.255 - 269

Published online: 27 Feb 2009 *

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