Title: Building manufacturing capabilities

Authors: Roy Maslen, Ken W. Platts

Addresses: Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Mill Lane, Press Site, Cambridge, CB2 1RX, UK

Abstract: The majority of manufacturing strategy literature focuses on the process of formulation rather than implementation. This paper focuses on the process of change and in particular on how businesses can build the capabilities required to drive competitive strategy. To this end, the research has taken an existing manufacturing strategy process [1] and expanded it to help businesses create commitment and to take the actions required to build new manufacturing capabilities. This process is based on the concept of ||directed strategy|| and applies the technique of force field analysis [2]. The research applied the new manufacturing strategy process in six different businesses and observed their progress over the following twelve months.

Keywords: capability building; directed strategy; force field analysis; manufacturing strategy process; manufacturing vision.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2000.001354

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2000 Vol.1 No.4/5, pp.349-365

Published online: 02 Jul 2003 *

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