Knowledge and organisational properties of CIM technology Online publication date: Thu, 03-Jul-2003
by David Lei, Joel D. Goldhar
International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management (IJMTM), Vol. 4, No. 1/2, 2002
Abstract: Advances in computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) technology have generated a significant increase in the potential economies of scope that firms can use to build strategic flexibility through faster speed and greater product variety. Economic investment in CIM technology by itself will not produce sustainable competitive advantage, since other competitors can rapidly imitate and deploy new manufacturing systems. Effective implementation of CIM technology to capture scope economies fully requires a foundation of manufacturing competence that is based on higher-order ''generative'' organisational learning and the creation of new forms of tacit knowledge that serve as the basis for faster firm-specific sources of innovation. Moreover, firms investing in CIM technology need to redesign their organisations to facilitate rapid information flows and knowledge-sharing among internal functions, business units, and even external suppliers and customers.
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