Linkages among manufacturing concepts, inventories, delivery service and competitiveness

Vastag, Gyula and Montabon, F. (2001) Linkages among manufacturing concepts, inventories, delivery service and competitiveness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION ECONOMICS, 71 (1-3). pp. 195-204. ISSN 0925-5273

Text IJPE_2001_Linkages.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (122kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze a model that states that investing in progressive manufacturing programs, combined with a modern approach to supplier issues, has a direct effect on inventory level and structure, which in turn directly affects delivery service and delivery related competitive advantages. The model was tested on data from the Global Manufacturing Research Group. This data was broken up into three groups: the United States, Western Europe and Transitional Economies of Central and Eastern Europe. The results of a set correlation analysis showed that in all three groups of countries: (1) investing in progressive manufacturing programs and using modern approaches in dealing with suppliers were significantly linked to inventory level and structure; (2) inventory level and structure were linked to delivery service; (3) delivery service was related to competitive advantage. Companies from the transitional economies differed from the other two groups in that they did not show a relationship between inventory structure and competitiveness. This may demonstrate that management in transitional economies may still be working to achieve a more successful linkage between inventory structure and competitiveness. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item