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Selection and Evaluation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Name: Selection and Evaluation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Author: Matthew J. Liberatore
ISBN: 9783642956232

by Matthew J. Liberatore, M.R. Blinkhorn, J. Borden, I.-J. Chen, C.-H. Chung

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Overview

This book provides a unified treatment of the current state of knowledge concerning the evaluation and selection of advanced manufacturing technologies. A multifunctional perspective is presented, and contributions from management science, accounting, technological innovation, strategic planning, economics, and organizational behavior are included so that a broad-based understanding of the topic can be achieved by the reader. The book is organized into three sections: innovation issues, methods and applications, and performance measurement. The book contains thoughtful reviews and critiques of current selection and evaluation methods and trends. New ideas, methods and approaches are offered as well. Applications and case studies are incorporated throughout the text, and illustrate the concepts and techniques presented. Specific topics include new studies on the adoption, diffusion and evaluation of specific technologies; the manager's role in the evaluation process; new multicriteria evaluation methods linked to the strategic plan of the firm; developments in performance measurement and management accounting, such as activity-based costing; and the measurement of flexibility.

Synopsis

Matthew J. Liberatore Department of Management Villanova University Villanova, PA 19085 1. BACKGROUND The weakening competitive position of many segments of u.s. manufacturing has been analyzed, debated and discussed in corporate boardrooms, academic journals and the popular literature. One result has been a renewed commitment toward improving productivity and quality in the workplace. The drive to reduce manufacturing related costs, while meeting ever-changing customer needs, has led many firms to consider more automated and flexible manufacturing systems. The extent to which these new technologies can support business goals in productivity, quality and flexibility is an especially important issue for manufacturing firms in the u.s. and other Western nations. Problems have arisen in developing performance measures and evaluation criteria which reflect the full range of costs and benefits associated with these technologies. Some would argue that managerial policies and attitudes, and not the shortcomings of the equipment or manufacturing processes, are the major impediments to implementation (Kaplan 1984).