Factors affecting the adoption of manufacturing best practices

Driving Factors and Mechanisms of AMT Application Levels for Equipment Manufacturing Enterprises: Based on Programmatic Grounded Theory

As a major part of the global manufacturing industry attaining technological upgrades, the adoption and application of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) plays a vital role in the development of enterprises. Thus, it is of the utmost significance to examine the driving factors that affect AMT application levels in equipment manufacturing enterprises. Through extensive interviews, the use of the qualitative research method of grounded theory, and the three-stage coding of the interview data from intelligent manufacturing pilot demonstration enterprises and projects, this study identified the key influencing factors for the AMT application levels of equipment manufacturing enterprises. We obtained 46 concepts and extracted 18 key categories and 6 main categories. Then, the logical relationships between the main categories were established. Finally, a driving factor model for the AMT application levels of equipment manufacturing enterprises was constructed. The results reveal that the driving factors that affect the AMT application levels of equipment manufacturing enterprises can be summarized as capability factors (technical capability, market capability, and management capability), motivation factors (material incentives and development incentives), and opportunity factors (external stakeholders). Overall, this study proposed a mechanism from the three aspects of ability, motivation, and opportunity.

Best supply chain management practices and high-performance firms

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the best supply chain management (SCM) practices that are implemented in medium- and large-sized Gulf manufacturing firms (MFs).

Design/methodology/approach

This study has explored seven SCM practices, i.e. supplier collaboration, flexibility with partners, usage of internet, customer focus (CF), lean production (LP), internal integration (II) and quality management (QM). It assumes that the best-performing firms must be the ones implementing the best practices. t-test and multiple linear regression analyses were used to establish the best practices, implemented by medium and large-sized Gulf MFs.

Findings

The results showed that QM, CF and supplier collaboration are considered as best SCM practices in Gulf MFs. Usage of internet may have been the best practice previously, but not anymore. LP cannot yet be qualified as, but may develop into the best SCM practice.

Practical implications

The study provides a useful contribution to the field of best SCM practices as it provides better decision-making insights and a benchmarking base to top managers, policy makers and academics. It is likely to result in increased overall performance of their firms.

Originality/value

The study provides an understanding of the distinctive characteristics of the best SCM practices, implemented by Gulf MFs. It has broader implications for all MFs, particularly in developing economies where the growth of manufacturing and effective management of their supply chains is a key element for the economic development.

The relationship between organizational culture and quality techniques, and its impact on operational performance

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate if a firm’s organizational culture affects the set of quality techniques it uses, and if these quality techniques affect the relationship between organizational culture and operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on data collected from 250 firms in Brazil and Denmark, structural equation modeling is used to investigate the relationship between organizational culture and the use of quality techniques, and its impact on operational performance. Four quality technique groups, four cultural profiles adopted from the Competing Values Framework and a set of operational performance indicators are used to operationalize the study.

Findings

– Culture does not appear to be an unequivocal predictor of the use of quality techniques. Furthermore, while most quality technique groups contribute indirectly to the total effect on operational performance in the developmental, group and hierarchical cultures, the performance effects are insignificant for all four groups in the rational culture.

Practical implications

– Managers need to be actively aware of the cultural characteristics of their organization before adopting quality techniques, in order to benefit most from the use of these techniques.

Originality/value

– Most previous studies address the relationships between culture, quality management and performance at the level of quality practices. This study takes the unitarist-pluralist discussion to the level of quality techniques and extends that discussion to what should be its core, namely, the influence of quality techniques on the performance impact of culture.

Internet móvel nas organizações: fatores de adoção e impactos sobre o desempenho

Recentemente, destaca-se a integração da Internet e da telefonia móvel, culminando no surgimento de outra tecnologia, chamada Internet Móvel (IM). Embora venha despertando interesse entre executivos e acadêmicos, conhece-se pouco sobre a adoção dessa tecnologia nas organizações. Assim, objetivou-se neste estudo identificar os principais motivos que têm levado as organizações a adotar a IM, além de apurar os efeitos percebidos do uso dessa tecnologia no desempenho organizacional. O estudo se caracteriza como uma pesquisa quantitativa de caráter exploratório, realizada com 96 empresas localizadas no Rio Grande do Sul. Para tal, utilizou-se como base o modelo de adoção de TI proposto por Lunardi, Dolci e Maçada (2010). Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a adoção da Internet Móvel é influenciada por três distintos fatores: utilidade percebida, ambiente organizacional e pressões competitivas, sendo a utilidade percebida o principal motivador. No que se refere aos efeitos percebidos do uso da IM no desempenho organizacional, o estudo indica que a Internet Móvel aumenta principalmente a produtividade da empresa, sendo seguido pela obtenção de novos clientes, pelo aumento das receitas e, por fim, pela redução dos custos operacionais.