Advanced manufacturing technology adoption: an integrated approach

Abstract

PurposeAlthough, the advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) benefits and potentialities are already known, issues regarding the management process, from the planning to the implementation, represent the main barriers to the effective use of such technologies. The actual benefits of the AMT incorporation to the manufacturing system, classified as systemic, will only be obtained and recognized if the current design and organizational structure become compatible with the change being introduced. The purpose of this paper is to present the rationality for the organizational design development related to AMT adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe developed theoretical synthesis integrates two refined and tested frameworks: the organizational design and the strategic selections of AMT. The company's manufacturing strategy, specifically the manufacturing vision, defines a set of statements, the required competences, which constitute the organizational design specifications. By approaching the AMT as resources related to the manufacturing vision competences, it could be assured the cohesion between the organizational design and the technology to be introduced. The theoretical development is illustrated by some empirical data, particularly in the cases of competences, capabilities and manufacturing vision statements formulation.FindingsThis paper is a theoretical construction that organizes and synthesizes the issues that are being studied in the main theme: “The adoption of the automated systems,” focusing the discussion on the manufacturing strategy and organizational design domains.Research limitations/implicationsThe generated framework is theoretical in essence and needs to be tested, although the theoretical exercise integrates tested frameworks.Practical implicationsThe understanding of the relationships between the process of AMT adoption and the required changes in the organization contribute to the attainment of the benefits related to those technologies.Originality/valueThe main value of the present paper is the theoretical exercise to generate a set of recommendations of the organizational design‐revision process. The systemic design approached used will found future research to generate practical solutions for the design process, contributing to the AMT integration to the manufacturing system.

Effects of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies on Manufacturing Company Performance

“…Costs associated with these resources, as well as significant capital equipment costs, may offset the direct cost efficiencies offered by AMT. The importance of aligning organisational processes with strategy through AMT is stressed in Gouvea da Costa and Pinheiro de Lima [31] and their integrated approach, which actually reinforces the concluding remarks of Swink and Nair [3]. In our case, control system for shut down and control-automation systems for energy efficient production are supposed to diminish material use, but they also increase scrap rate.…”

Identifying organizational requirements for the implementation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT)

“…The role of the framework presented in Fig. 4 is to organize the analysis that is developed in the present study [48].…”

Drones in manufacturing: exploring opportunities for research and practice

“…Manufacturers that have gained experience in using drones in “sense” or “move” tasks could consider further integrating technology to make their drones capable of performing “transform” tasks. Evidence from the adoption of other AMTs imply that such integration needs financial and strategic justification, readiness for organizational change, investment in infrastructure and support from top management (see, Small, 2007; Gouvea da Costa and Pinheiro de Lima, 2008; Gouvea da Costa and Pinheiro de Lima, 2008; Dean et al , 1992; Zammuto and O’Connor, 1992; Boyer et al , 1997; Percival and Cozzarin, 2009; Bessant, 1994).…”

“…The drone technology can be classified as an AMT. An AMT is a computer-based technological innovation used in manufacturing processes (Udo and Ehie, 1996; Gouvea da Costa and Pinheiro de Lima, 2008). AMTs include a range of modern technologies used in manufacturing, such as computer numerical control (CNC) machines, industrial robots, flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), radio frequency identification (RFID), additive manufacturing (“3D printing”) and automatic guided vehicles (AGV), among others (Jonsson, 2000; Boyer et al , 1997).…”