Manufacturing Flexibility and Operational Performance: Empirical Evidence in Manufacturing SMEs

Abstract:

This study aims to investigate the multidimensional and individual relationship between manufacturing flexibility and operational performance in manufacturing SMEs. A survey methodology was followed to collect data pertaining to the phenomena of manufacturing flexibility and operational performance in the SMEs using a single respondent design. The results provided evidence that manufacturing flexibility is positively and significantly associated with operational performance; suggesting that more flexible manufacturing system is equivalent to the higher operational performance. In addition, the results highlighted the important role of machine flexibility, product flexibility, volume flexibility, routing flexibility, and labor flexibility in improving the operational performance. Each of them contributed not equally, but positively, to all dimensions of operational performance. The findings aim at contributing towards understanding the manufacturing flexibility dimensions that give rise to operational performance. Keywords: manufacturing flexibility, operational performance; manufacturing SMEs

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 660)
• Pages: 966-970
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.660.966
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Untung Setiyo Purwanto*, Shahrul Kamaruddin, Norizah Mohamad
• Keywords: Manufacturing Flexibility, Manufacturing SMEs, Operational Performance

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