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Definition

Strategy is the long-term direction of an organization in which its resources are matched to the economic climate and the expectations of clients and business owners. Manufacturing strategy is defined as “a sequence of decisions that, over time, enables a business unit to achieve a desired manufacturing structure, infrastructure, and set of specific capabilities” (Hayes and Wheelwright, 1984). Moreover, the pattern of decisions actually made constitutes realized manufacturing strategy, which may differ from the intended manufacturing strategy. The terms’ structure’, ‘infrastructure’, and ‘capabilities’ will be subsequently explained. The primary aim of a manufacturing strategy is to ensure that all long-term manufacturing developments are congruent with the overall business strategy or competitive priorities of the firm.

Background

Skinner (1969)introduced the concept of manufacturing strategy and its implementation in the 1960s. The concept derives from corporate strategy...

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P. M. Swamidass

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© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Swamidass, P.M., Darlow, N.R. (2000). MANUFACTURING STRATEGY . In: Swamidass, P.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Production and Manufacturing Management. Springer, Boston, MA . https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0612-8_557

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0612-8_557

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-8630-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-0612-8

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