Title: Flexibility and performance relationships: evidence from Indian bearing manufacturing firm

Authors: Narayan C. Nayak, Pradip K. Ray

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721 302, India. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721 302, India

Abstract: The objective of the research study is to establish a relationship between flexibility and performance in production systems. To explore the relationship in real life data, a case study was conducted at a leading bearing manufacturing firm in India. The firm produces bearing for automotive manufacturers. Product quality and production system performance in a firm found to be important for issues concerning manufacturing flexibility. The study in particular discusses the manufacturing strategy prevailing in the firm. Empirical relationships are established relating flexibility and performance. Path values between the factors (flexibility-performance) for all feasible part-machine combinations are calculated. The study reports the critical findings while relating these two factors. The findings have implications for both manufacturers as well as researchers.

Keywords: manufacturing flexibility; product quality; production systems performance; case study; path models; modelling; India; bearing manufacturing; automotive bearings; automobile industry; flexible manufacturing; manufacturing strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOM.2010.035255

International Journal of Modelling in Operations Management, 2010 Vol.1 No.1, pp.67 - 83

Published online: 18 Sep 2010 *

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