Advanced manufacturing technologies and strategically flexible production

This paper deals with the role of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) within the context of changes in the basic principles to organize and mana ge manufacturing systems. In particular, the use and effectiveness of vario us technologies and their computer-based integration are investigated in th e light of three emerging principles: (i) strategic multi-focusedness, (ii) process integration across functions, and (iii) process ownership. Togethe r, these principles are referred to as Strategically Flexible Production (S FP). In an international sample of 392 manufacturing units from the metal-w orking industry, the use of AMT is analyzed in three groups: core adopters, partial adopters or non-adopters of SFP. Data show that while core adopter s do not use stand-alone AMT more than the other groups, they have a higher level of computer integration (CI), in particular in their forefront depar tments. However, the use of integrating technologies varies much within the core adopters, suggesting that SFP does not necessarily require massive in formation technology (IT) support. This is further confirmed by the analysi s of performance improvements.:The mere adoption of stand-alone AMT per se does not provide companies with superior improvements in performance. On th e contrary, SFP alone or combined with a higher level of integration of sta nd-alone AMT fosters increased time responsiveness. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.