Method for estimating manufacturing competitiveness: The case of the apparel maquiladora industry in Central America

Abstract

En este trabajo se propone un método integrado para la estimación de la competitividad de fabricación de las empresas utilizando su rendimiento comparativo en sus objetivos de fabricación. El método desarrollado utiliza un extenso análisis de la literatura, junto con un análisis de expertos a través del método Delphi para identificar los factores que influyen en la competitividad de la industria bajo estudio. Diferentes coeficientes estadísticos tales como el alfa de Cronbach, W de Kendall, kappa de Fleiss y la correlación intraclase se utilizan para asegurar la fiabilidad de los instrumentos y de la opinión de los expertos. El análisis exploratorio de factores (EFA por sus siglas en inglés) y un posterior análisis factorial confirmatorio (CFA por sus siglas en inglés) se utilizan como el medio para obtener el modelo de medición con el que se calcula un indicador de la competitividad de fabricación. Un caso de estudio empírico utilizando el método propuesto se lleva a cabo en una muestra de plantas maquiladora de ropa.

The Effect of Process Improvement Practices on Manufacturing Competitiveness of Apparel Factories

“…These results are partially consistent with the findings of Vinodh & Joy (2012). Since quality is not a competitive priority of this industry because managers consider it an integral part of their operations, one of their core competences (Ocampo et al, 2017), Hypothesis 2a was rejected.…”

“…The MC was estimated using the method proposed by Ocampo et al (2017) and the survey results with the following equation: This model is consistent with the literature, as four of the five typical competitive priorities are present in the model (Avella et al, 2001;Greasley, 2009). However, quality is not present in the model, probably because clients in this particular industry only contract companies with proven high quality.…”

“…For instance, in a study by Ocampo et al (2017), factory's MC was measured in an aggregated way by using the weighted mean of scores obtained regarding the factories' comparative performance (capabilities) in different factors with an adjustment done using the importance (priorities) that each of those factors has in their respective industrial sector. The study found that the MC for apparel factories in Central America had four main factors or capabilities: cost, environmental protection, delivery time and flexibility, with 13 disaggregated components.…”

“…Zeng et al (2015) Small group problem solving, Employee suggestion, Task-related training for employees, Quality information, Process managementOcampo et al (2017) Kaizen events, TPM (total productive maintenance), VSM (value stream map), SMED (single minute exchange die), Kanban, TQM (total quality management)…”

Integrated Supply Chain Management and SCOR Model: A Strategic Approach for Small Sized Business

“…Understanding the environment in which a company operates, is a vital part of strategic planning [5]. Therefore, measuring competitive capabilities performance seems an adequate way to describe the manufacturing competitiveness of a company [6]. There is high competition between companies in the industry.…”