Manufacturing Strategy: an Overview of Current Process and Content Models

It is concluded that the content model is better established than the process model for manufacturing strategy and that progress toward a paradigm of manufacturing strategy has been slow.

Abstract

In this paper, a content and process model of manufacturing strategy is developed based on our interpretation of the literature. While we argue that both models are inadequate, we conclude that the content model is better established than the process model. We also argue that progress toward a paradigm of manufacturing strategy has been slow. Three main reasons for this lack of progress are offered: a paucity of explicit attempts to build theory, a shortage of empirical research, and too little integration of manufacturing strategy research with research in related disciplines. Suggestions are made to address each of these shortcomings.