Advanced manufacturing technologies : Determinants of implementation success

Observes that in response to the growing global competition, many manufacturing companies are in the process of adopting advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) to improve their business operations. Notes that, despite the increasing interest in AMT, few empirical studies have been conducted to determine key success implementation factors. Presents the results of an empirical study which surveyed manufacturing companies in the USA to determine the critical success factors in the implementation of AMT. Uses tangible and intangible benefits as indicators of AMT implementation success measures. Classifies the determinants of AMT implementation success under four broad categories: the triple “C” factors (communication, commitment and co‐ordination), the housekeeping factors (action plan, effective team, vendor support, cost justification, functions integration and effective facilitator), the self‐interest factors (employee moral, satisfaction, belief in AMT and appropriate reward), and the literacy factors (understanding of firm’s business, training clarity of goals/objectives of AMT). Reveals from analysis of the responses that about 70 per cent of the variances in the success measures were explained by those determinants of AMT identified in the study.