Title: Building an adaptive manufacturing enterprise for the Hong Kong watchmaking industry

Authors: Hamid Noori, W.B. Lee, Francis K.H. Lau

Addresses: Laurier Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5, Canada; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PRC. ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PRC. ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PRC

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss the development of a prototype DMN as a portal-based information exchange system for the design, manufacture and distribution of customised products for the watchmaking industry in Hong Kong. The e-portal serves as an enabling tool for the industry to share information instantly and globally among all the participants in the value chain and presents an unprecedented opportunity for a wider industrial collaboration among them. The portal offers flexibility to |change by design| and creates distinctive knowledge for the channel partners in an industry characterised by a mature market. It allows them to address the challenges of fast response product development and manufacturing and hence better adapt to customer demands and coordinate go-to-market strategies in increasingly shorter time frames.

Keywords: dispersed manufacturing networks; modular consortia; cooperative production systems; adaptive manufacturing enterprise; e-portal development; online portals; Hong Kong; watchmaking industry; information exchange; customised products; information sharing; value chain management; industrial collaboration; product development; distributed manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2007.013325

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.11 No.3/4, pp.373 - 388

Published online: 20 Apr 2007 *

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