The implementation and integration of computer aided production management(CAPM) in Taiwan and the UK: an empirical study

This article describes the results of a comparative study of the implementa tion and integration of computer aided production management (CAPM) in the UK and Taiwan, one of the emerging 'little dragons' of South East Asia, and manufacturers in the developed Western economy. The research design used q ualitative and quantitative analyses to develop and examine a model of CAPM implementation and integration, by drawing on the practical experience of senior managers of management information systems (MTS) and production in T aiwan and the UK. Three phases of fieldwork were undertaken. The first phas e is an investigation survey which began with literature and involved explo ratory fieldwork visiting Taiwanese manufacturing companies. The second pha se identifies from case analysis the most important elements of CAPM system s allowing the development of a model of CAPM implementation and integratio n. The third phase is to examine and refine the model of CAPM and compare w ith the findings of other researchers. Although the industrial development and manufacturing histories of the two countries are very different, it was found that manufacturers in both countries appear to be pursuing CAPM deve lopment strategies which are leading to convergent solutions. Whilst UK man ufacturers have more experience with the computerization of production mana gement than their Taiwanese counterparts, and the initial system designs in the two countries were different, developers have encountered similar diff iculties in developing systems. Taiwanese manufacturers appear to be improv ing the quality of their production management computer systems in a more s ystematic, and thus faster manner than their UK counterparts. Most Taiwanes e and UK firms have overcome systems development barriers to achieve a high state of full CAPM integration, computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), a nd supply chain management (SCM). A comparison of CAPM in the two countries suggests that Taiwanese manufacturers have created the platforms on which to build CAPM systems, are aware of the problems they face and have plans t o overcome them. When these plans were examined and compared with the UK. b oth countries appear to be moving toward similar designs for their CAPM sys tems.