Title: An examination of the implementation and effectiveness of process improvement initiatives in manufacturing operational systems

Authors: Mahmoud M. Yasin, Michael H. Small, Jafar Alavi, Mohammad Al-Najjar

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70625, Johnson City, TN 37614-0625, USA. ' Department of Management and Marketing, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70625, Johnson City, TN 37614-0625, USA. ' Department of Economics and Finance, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70686, Johnson City, TN 37614-1709, USA. ' Department of Economics and Finance, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70686, Johnson City, TN 37614-1709, USA

Abstract: This research examines the rate of implementation and the level of effectiveness of six process management initiatives in four manufacturing industries. The results of this survey-based research indicate that there has not been a mad rush to adopt all available initiatives. Rather, individual industries appear to favour different mixes of these initiatives. Moreover, most of the respondents indicated that the initiatives that they had chosen were effective in meeting their operational and strategic needs. This study concludes by presenting specific conclusions relevant to manufacturing systems in the studied industries.

Keywords: manufacturing systems; process management; management initiatives; initiative implementation; effectiveness; operational systems; strategic needs; USA; United States; apparel industry; clothing industry; food processing; pharmaceutical industry; biotechnology; semiconductor industry; business; systems research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2011.039295

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2011 Vol.5 No.3, pp.244 - 261

Published online: 17 Apr 2015 *

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