Abstract
Globalization has opened up more markets to manufacturers and generated exceeding pressure on them to provide high-quality products fast, economically, and with high level of adaptability. This pressure is more of an encumbrance to small manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). The paper explores a virtual manufacturing strategy that SMEs could adopt to maintain and gain competitiveness. Also, the paper traces technological advances in manufacturing from the cottage industry to the present day information superhighway and how it might impact the future of manufacturing. How these advances impact SMEs is explored. A possible infrastructure for integrating IT/IS and manufacturing strategies is presented.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 147-159 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | International Journal of Production Economics |
| Volume | 75 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2002 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Business, Management and Accounting
- Economics and Econometrics
- Management Science and Operations Research
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Keywords
- IT/IS
- Integration
- Manufacturing strategy
- Outsourcing
- Telemanufacturing
- Virtual manufacturing