CASE STUDIES OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION IN SMALL COMPANIES

Issues of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) implementation have been extensively covered in the literature in regard to large companies; however, exclusive examination of the impact of AMT on small companies remains under researched. This examination of ten case study companies demonstrates the potential benefits of AMT use, as each of the companies achieved positive outcomes from AMT. However, the benefits achieved did not always meet the companies' expectations. Analysis of the experiences of the companies indicates the importance of considering the impact of AMT output on the manufacturing process, the levels of pre-existing AMT experience and the availability of external support mechanisms.