Implementation of new manufacturing technologies : implications of organizational characteristics and quality management practices | |
| Author | Tritos Laosirihongthong |
| Call Number | AIT Diss no.SM-02-05 |
| Subject(s) | Quality control Manufacturing industries--Quality control |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation; no.SM-02-05 |
| Abstract | New manufacturing technologies (NMTs) bring about considerable improvements in competitive advantage, which is not only derived from low cost production but high quality and flexibility. To achieve the expected benefits of NMTs, appropriate managerial efforts prior to and after adoption of these technologies are required. Quality management systems constitute certain management practices that could be used to enhance these managerial efforts in NMT implementation. In addition, to articulate policies for encouraging new investments in NMTs, one needs to understand the current technology use in terms of the competitive manufacturing performance and strategy. It is also important to discover what organizational characteristics lead to successful and beneficial NMT implementation. The objectives of this study are to investigate the relationships between NMTs used and three organizational characteristics (principal ownership, size of company, and existence of labor union), and to examine whether the application of quality management practices in NMT implementation would lead to increased. performance. Empirical data obtained from 149 companies in the Thai automotive industry is used in this study to examine the above-mentioned issues. Comparisons of average mean scores and MANOV A with post hoc tests indicate that, among fifteen NMTs, CNC, CAD, and Pneumatic and hydraulic equipment are the most frequently used, while AS/RS, pick and place robots, and flexible manufacturing center are the least used. The organizational characteristics: principal ownership, size of company and labor union memberships show a significant relationship with adopted NMTs. Expert opinion, factor analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis are used to test the validity (content, construct, and criterion) of the conceptual framework and research hypotheses. Using expert opinions (content validity), the twenty-four quality management practices identified from the literature are reduced to fifteen and classified into the five general categories: Customer focus, Leadership, Employee involvement, Continual improvement, and Mutually beneficial system vendor relationship. Factor analysis (construct validity) is used to confirm these classifications. The results of hierarchical regression analysis (criterion validity) show that the moderating effects of three quality management practices on the relationship between NMTs and performance are significantly positive. These are Leadership, Employee involvement, and Mutually beneficial system vendor relationship. Thus companies that investest in NMTs and adopt appropriate quality management practices in the implementation have better performance than those that only invest in NMTs but do not use these management practices. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation; no.SM-02-05 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management (SOM) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Publication code=SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Paul, Himangshu; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tang, John C.S.;Speece, Mark William;Voratas Kachitvichyanukul;O'Brian, Christopher ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Austria; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |