Neil Darlow

Evolving forms of manufacturing strategy development:evidence and implications

This paper outlines, using evidence from several case studies, the use of alternative forms of manufacturing strategy processes. Our investigation shows that the manufacturing strategy development practices of manufacturers are evolving in many directions; we found several alternatives to the formal top-down planning process. Manufacturers use one or more of the following alternatives with or without the top-down manufacturing strategy process: a coherent pattern of actions; manufacturing/process improvement programs; or the pursuit of core manufacturing capabilities. It appears that the various manufacturing strategy development processes may be tied to the strategic role of manufacturing in a company. This paper offers a framework that captures the relationship between the strategic role of manufacturing and the process of manufacturing strategy development. An in-depth case from a UK company illustrates the evolving forms of manufacturing strategy development processes.

The role of manufacturing and market managers in strategy development: lessons from three companies

According to researchers and managers, there is a lack of agreement between marketing and manufacturing managers on critical strategic issues. However, most of the literature on the subject is anecdotal and little formal empirical research has been done. Three companies are investigated to study the extent of agreement/disagreement between manufacturing and marketing managers on strategy content and process. A novel method permits the study of agreement between the two different functional managers on the process of developing strategy. The findings consistently show that manufacturing managers operate under a wider range of strategic priorities than marketing managers, and that manufacturing managers participate less than marketing managers in the strategy development process. Further, both marketing and manufacturing managers show higher involvement in the strategy development process in the latter stages of the Hayes and Wheelwright four-stage model of manufacturing’s strategic role.

Mapping the Manufacturing Technology Acquisition Process

Manufacturing technology acquisition may be thought of as a ‘process’ — a sequence of activities that lead to a decision. Every company has a technology acquisition process, though it is not necessarily structured and formalised. Before a technology acquisition process can be analysed and refined, it needs to be properly understood. This paper presents a method for identifying and mapping the processes that a company actually follows in forming its technology acquisition decisions.

Capturing the Process of Manufacturing Strategy Formulation

A ‘process’ is a sequence of actions that occur in the formation of a decision. This paper presents and illustrates a methodology for identifying the process by which a company has arrived at its present manufacturing strategy. The intention is to bring increased understanding of the process of manufacturing strategy, to make implicit actions explicit, and to enable companies to evaluate and learn from past actions.