Title: Cellular manufacturing and marketing strategy in UK small to medium enterprises

Authors: Stuart Chambers, Alastair Nicholson

Addresses: Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV7 7AB, UK. London Business School, London, NW1 4SA, UK

Abstract: This article examines the process of introducing AMTs (advanced manufacturing technologies) in response to strategic initiatives in smaller enterprises (SMEs). The research is based on the participation by the authors in a UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) review of strategic initiatives and the corresponding investment programmes. The article focuses on cases where the adoption of a cellular organisation was used as a means of implementing a marketing strategy. The research shows that more general AMTs, such as cellular systems, may appear to provide advantages even when inadequate market analysis has taken place. However, achieving real competitive advantage requires an effective translation of the market opportunities into internal requirements which can then be supported by appropriate investment.

Keywords: cellular manufacturing; manufacturing; SMEs; strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2000.001348

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2000 Vol.1 No.4/5, pp.428-443

Published online: 02 Jul 2003 *

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