Carlos F. Gomes

A literature review of manufacturing performance measures and measurement in an organizational context: a framework and direction for future research

Competitive pressures in the global manufacturing environment are forcing manufacturing organizations to re‐engineer in order to become more competitive in the marketplace. Toward that end, management of these organizations is paying closer attention to the changing nature of manufacturing performance, and the systems, processes and measures used in its evaluation. Examines the literature concerned with issues related to the different facets of manufacturing organizational performance. Reviews and classifies articles published in relevant journals between 1988 and 2000. Based on this extensive literature review, identifies and discusses several issues relevant to both practice and theory of manufacturing performance measurement. Concludes by presenting a conceptual framework outlining the evolution of manufacturing performance measures and measurement in an organizational context.

A literature review of maintenance performance measurement: A conceptual framework and directions for future research

Purpose – This research aims to examine the relevant literature related to maintenance performance measurement in the manufacturing sector. In the process, innovative approaches and models utilized to measure and manage maintenance performance in manufacturing operational settings are classified and examined. Based on this investigation, future research directions and themes are identified.Design/methodology/approach – A database of 251 peer‐reviewed publications, published during the last 30 years, was utilized for the purpose of this research. The published works included contributions from both practitioners and scholars.Findings – This literature review‐based research revealed important themes related to evolution of maintenance performance management. These themes focus on the effective utilization of maintenance resources, information systems support, and human factor management. Based on this literature review, a conceptual framework, which traces the different operational and organizational facets...

Performance measurement practices in manufacturing firms: an empirical investigation

Purpose – The objective of this study is to shed some light on performance measurement issues relevant to current practices.Design/methodology/approach – The performance measurement practices in terms of utilization, relevance, and availability of information are studied for a sample of 92 Portuguese manufacturing executives. Several statistical instruments were used namely multiple regression analysis, cluster analysis and gap analysis.Findings – The results of this study underscore consistent patterns pointing to a lack of a broad perspective on manufacturing performance measurement. Conclusions and their implications to the theory and art of performance measurement are presented.Research limitations/implications – The sample used in this study is specific in nature (Portuguese executives). Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly. Future research should test the applicability of the obtained results using other sample frames.Practical implications – This study provides practicing managers wi...

Performance measurement practices in manufacturing firms revisited

Purpose – Given the increasing emphasis on performance measurement and improvement, the purpose of this paper is to examine the current views of manufacturing executives on key aspects of performance measures. Specifically, this research focuses on current practices related to extent of use, predictive value and availability of information for 63 performance measures.Design/methodology/approach – This study was survey based. The research instrument used to collect the data was constructed based on the literature. Several statistical analysis procedures including regression analysis, cluster analysis and gap analysis are utilized to accomplish the objective of this study.Findings – The results are compared to findings obtained from a previous study, conducted five years ago, to assess any potential changes with regard to the issues studied. The comparison of the findings from both studies revealed some similarities and significant differences attributed to the changing environment.Research limitations/impl...

The effectiveness of hospitality service operations: measurement and implementation concerns.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic approach to measuring, tracking, monitoring and continuously improving service efficiency, availability and quality in hospitality operational settings.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed measure of service operational effectiveness (SOE) consists of three indicators. They include the availability indicator, the quality indicator, and the efficiency indicator.Findings – The paper finds that the proposed operational performance approach based on the SOE is consistent with the themes of performance measures and measurement reported in the literature.Research limitations/implications – In this paper, the proposed service operational effectiveness approach represents a serious attempt at quantifying the key facets of service effectiveness in hospitality operational settings. The validation of this performance assessment and measurement approach is worthy of future research.Practical implications – The paper sees that the approach advocated ...

Performance management in service operational settings: a selective literature examination

Purpose – This paper aims to examine, the specific literature related to performance measurement in the service sector. In the process, it also aims to classify and examine innovative approaches and models utilized to measure performance in service operational settings. Based on this investigation, the paper seeks to identify relevant benchmarking implications.Design/methodology/approach – A database of 141 peer‐reviewed publications, published between 1981 and early 2008, was utilized for the purpose of this paper. The published works included contributions from both practioners and scholars.Findings – The International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management is found to be the leading journal in terms of contributions to performance measurement in service operational settings. It contributed 25 articles. The bulk of published work appeared in international journals. These contributions were mixed in nature. They included empirical, conceptual, case studies, literatures reviews and interviews....

Key performance factors of manufacturing effective performance: The impact of customers and employees

Purpose – The objective of this study is to investigate the differences between high and low‐performing manufacturing organizations in relation to critical organizational performance dimensions.Design/methodology/approach – The types and frequency of performance measures used by the sampled manufacturing organizations are compared using factor and cluster analysis.Findings – Based on the results of this study, it appears that high‐performing manufacturing organizations, relative to their low‐performing counterparts, tend to emphasise more the performance aspects related to employees, customers and market share. As such, these organizations appear to consider employees and costumers related performance aspects as critical elements of the overall organizational performance.Research limitations/implications – The sample used in this study is specific in nature. It consisted of Portuguese manufacturing organizations. Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly.Practical implications – This study clear...

A Systematic Benchmarking Perspective on Performance Management of Global Small to Medium-sized Organizations: An Implementation-based Approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer small to medium‐sized organizations (SMOs) with global business aspirations an innovative approach to performance measurement and management.Design/methodology/approach – The first phase of this research is based on a literature review. The second phase capitalizes on the literature review to offer a conceptual framework aimed at improving the performance measurement approach utilized by SMOs. The advocated approach stresses performance measurement, benchmarking, and effective implementation.Findings – The conceptual approach offered in this study represents the main outcome of this applied research. The advocated approach integrates several frameworks in an effort to address practical concerns related to performance measurement, management, and improvement.Research limitations/implications – The research offered in this study has practical and theoretical implications. The proposed approach offered by this study should be refined and validated through futur...

An empirical investigation of manufacturing performance measures utilization

Purpose - The objective of this study is to shed some light on the information flow between executives and financial analysts in the context of manufacturing performance measurement and evaluation. Design/methodology/approach - The predictive value, information availability and frequency of performance measures used by the sampled manufacturing organizations and financial analysts are compared using multiple regression analysis. Findings - The findings of this study clearly underscore the increasing significance of non-financial and non-traditional performance measures. The importance of customer-based and quality-related measures is noted. Research limitations/implications - The sample used in this study is specific in nature. It consisted of Portuguese manufacturing organizations and Portuguese financial analysts. Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly. Practical implications - The findings of this study have clear implications for organizational information systems. Re-engineering of organizational information systems is called for toward closing the information gaps which exist in the context of organizational performance measurement. Originality/value - This study has both practical and theoretical value, as it empirically explores the practical implications of some important issues related to organizational performance.

Assessing operational effectiveness in healthcare organizations: a systematic approach

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic approach to measuring, tracking, monitoring and continuously improving efficiency, availability and quality in healthcare operational settings. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The proposed measure of healthcare operational effectiveness (HOE) consists of three indicators. They include an availability indicator, an quality indicator, and an efficiency indicator. The proposed approach tends to facilitate the systematic improvement at the different facets of operational effectiveness. FINDINGS The proposed operational performance approach based on the HOE is consistent with the themes of performance measures and measurement reported in the literature. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS The proposed healthcare operational effectiveness approach represents a serious attempt at quantifying the key facets of service effectiveness in healthcare operational settings. The validation of this performance assessment and measurement approach is worthy of future research. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The approach advocated by the HOE has operational and strategic relevance to decision makers of healthcare organizations. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This paper presents a practical, systematic approach toward enhancing operational effectiveness in healthcare organizations. Relevant implementation issues associated with the proposed approach are also addressed.