Manufacturing firms—large and small—face massive change and adjustment as they move from a stable, fault-tolerant environment of long production runs to a volatile world in which production runs are short; product characteristics are changing constantly; and defect-free, on-time production at decreasing prices is a condition for survival. The necessary changes in the production organization include everything from the layout of the shop floor to the distribution of authority between managers and workers. The magnitude of these changes threatens to overwhelm the managerial capacities of firms, regardless of their size.
This study examines the particularly vulnerable situation of small and mid-size manufacturers and considers ways in which to help them undertake the many changes and adjustments necessary. These include assimilating the new tools, disciplines, and philosophy of lean manufacturing; embracing new ways of delegating responsibilities; and developing new kinds of partnerships among customers, suppliers, and employees.
- LEARNING TO CHANGE
- Copyright
- Preface
- STUDY METHODOLOGY
- REPORT STRUCTURE
- Contents
- Executive Summary
- PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES FOR SMALLER MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
- Barrier 1: Disproportionate Impact of Regulation
- Barrier 2: Lack of Awareness
- Barrier 3: Isolation
- Barrier 4: Where to Seek Advice
- Barrier 5: Scarcity of Capital
- SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE
- EFFECTIVENESS OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTERS
- CONCLUSIONS
- Majority Opinion
- Minority Opinion
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- SUMMARY
- 1 Introduction
- SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF U.S. MANUFACTURERS
- GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF MANUFACTURING
- DIVERSITY OF SMALLER MANUFACTURERS
- Product or Market Sector
- Modernization
- Company Maturity and Goals
- Worker Demographics
- Geographic Characteristics (Urban versus Rural)
- GLOBAL COMPETITION: CHALLENGES CONFRONTING AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS
- RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES
- A ROLE FOR INDUSTRIAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS
- 2 Improving Manufacturing Performance in Smaller Firms
- BARRIER 1: DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF REGULATION
- The Barrier
- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement
- BARRIER 2: LACK OF AWARENESS
- The Barrier
- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement
- BARRIER 3: ISOLATION
- The Barrier
- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement
- BARRIER 4: WHERE TO SEEK ADVICE
- The Barrier
- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement
- BARRIER 5: SCARCITY OF CAPITAL
- The Barrier
- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement
- IMPLICATIONS FOR MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE
- 3 Improving Manufacturing: Sources of Assistance for Smaller Companies
- PRIVATE SECTOR ASSISTANCE
- Consultants
- Vendors and Suppliers of Technology
- Supplier Chains
- Professional and Trade Associations
- Books and Periodicals
- PUBLIC SECTOR ASSISTANCE
- State and Local Initiatives
- Universities
- Technical Schools, Community Colleges, Apprenticeship Programs
- Federal Programs
- Federal Laboratories
- Department of Defense
- Department of Commerce
- National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS)
- Shared Manufacturing Facilities/Teaching Factories
- OTHER MODELS FOR COORDINATED MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE
- Cooperative Extension Service
- Japanese Kohsetsushi Centers
- 4 Effectiveness of Manufacturing Technology Centers
- OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE MTCS
- CONCLUSIONS
- 5 Conclusions and Recommendations
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- CONCLUSIONS
- 6 Minority Opinion
- APPENDIXES
- A Manufacturing Establishments by Size and State
- B Selected State and Local Programs
- QUALITY MANAGEMENT CONSORTIA (QMC)
- GEORGIA TECH INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION SERVICE
- PENNSYLVANIA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (PENNTAP)
- C Federal Register Notice and Procedure for MTC Selection
- References
- Bibliography
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