The relationship of integration and automation under an uncertain environment: a SEM model

Qiang Tu, Kun Liao and Yulong Li

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2011, vol. 22, issue 4, 344-361

Abstract: Under a uncertain environment (i.e., growing global competition, changing customer demand, shorter product life cycles, and increasing market diversity), two manufacturing strategies often emerge: manufacturing technology automation and manufacturing system integration. Existing case studies indicate that firms should adapt manufacturing integration first and then automate the manufacturing system to improve manufacturing performance. Using 288 responses from manufacturing managers, the findings of this study empirically supports this proposition. Analytical results also show that the combination strategies of manufacturing system integration followed by manufacturing technology automation have more than twice the effect on manufacturing performance than using manufacturing automation strategy alone.

Keywords: environmental uncertainty; manufacturing performance; manufacturing system integration; automation; automtated manufacturing technology; AMT; uncertain business environments; manufacturing strategy; manufacturing integration. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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