International Journal of Operations & Production Management articles from June 1996

International Journal of Operations & Production Management archives from June 1996

Do companies need to measure their production flexibility. (flexible manufacturing systems)
June 1, 1996... Introduction The need to measure production flexibility is frequently quoted as a requirement in technology selection decisions, such as selecting between alternative flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). It is also frequently quoted as a...

Metaplanning in FMS scheduling. (flexible manufacturing system)
June 1, 1996... Introduction A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) utilizes numerically controlled machines and automated material handling devices to produce a large variety of parts of medium batch sizes. The use of an FMS enables manufacturers to enjoy...

Multiple-stage production planning research: history and opportunities.
June 1, 1996... Introduction Multiple-stage production planning addresses systems which transform and/or transfer inventories through a set of connected stages, to produce finished goods. In its most generalized form, such a system may contain stages which...

Strategic and operational choices for small subcontracting firms: empirical results and an interpretative model.
June 1, 1996... Introduction Subcontracting is at present undergoing a period of renewed importance: the increase in the incidence of purchases on sales, with an average of over 50 per cent and in some industries reaching even 70 per cent, is confirmed by...

A contingency view of time-based competition for manufacturers.
June 1, 1996... Introduction Time-based competition (TBC) is a managerial approach which focuses on shrinking the time required for businesses to complete key activities. Since the concept was first introduced, numerous books and articles have documented...

Understanding the use of just-in-time purchasing in a developing country: the case of Mexico.
June 1, 1996... Introduction As cost becomes increasingly important in today's highly competitive international marketplace, more and more companies find themselves moving at least parts of their manufacturing operations to developing countries. This highly...

A comparative study of line design approaches for serial production systems.
June 1, 1996... Introduction Despite the great deal of research conducted on the design of production lines much remains to be learned. For years it was believed and maintained that the optimally designed production line achieved a specified cycle time with...