To read this content please select one of the options below:

A methodology for achieving agility in manufacturing organisations

Z. Zhang (The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)
H. Sharifi (The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)

International Journal of Operations & Production Management

ISSN: 0144-3577

Article publication date: 1 April 2000

6473

Abstract

As we approach the twenty‐first century, manufacturing success and survival are becoming more and more difficult to ensure. This fact is rooted in the emergence of a new business era that embraces “change” as one of its major characteristics. The emphasis is now on adaptability to changes in the business environment and on addressing market and customer needs proactively. The emerging paradigm is agile manufacturing. Understanding and responding to changes, and taking advantage of changes through strategic utilisation of managerial and manufacturing methods and tools, are some of the pivotal concepts of agile manufacturing. This paper discusses these concepts and presents a methodology to assist manufacturing companies to achieve agility. Industrial questionnaire surveys and case studies are carried out to support and validate the methodology. Results and conclusions derived from the surveys and case studies in support of the methodology are reported.

Keywords

Citation

Zhang, Z. and Sharifi, H. (2000), "A methodology for achieving agility in manufacturing organisations", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 496-513. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570010314818

Publisher

:

MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited

Related articles