Title: Organisational and functional views of a small manufacturing enterprise

Authors: J.A. Harding, B. Yu, K. Popplewell

Addresses: Dept of Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. ' Dept of Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. ' Dept of Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

Abstract: To achieve and maintain competitive advantage, manufacturing enterprises must be flexible and open to change. This requires regular evaluation of performance and redesign of manufacturing capability. An information-centred approach to factory design is introduced. This includes a reusable enterprise model that facilitates information sharing between designers and managers, through a variety of design, analysis and evaluation tools, called Views. The applicability of this approach to the analysis of small manufacturing enterprises is demonstrated through an industrial case study. In particular, the content and scope of tools to provide both an Organisational View and a Functional View are described.

Keywords: information modelling; manufacturing models; enterprise design; factory design; business process analysis; SMEs; small firms; small manufacturing enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.1999.004467

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 1999 Vol.1 No.3, pp.338 - 352

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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