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Manufacturing Systems Foundations of World-Class Practice (1992) / Chapter Skim
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Educational and Technological Challenges
Pages 78-82

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From page 78...
... The challenge posed by the worldwide competitive environment will demand many things of the enterprise, particularly leaders who understand the system of manufacturing, its elements and their interrelationships. Leaders of successful enterprises will have an enhanced understanding of the capabilities of their competitors; they will strive to eliminate organizational parochialism; and they will develop the ability to respond more quickly to 78
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From page 79...
... The long-term commitment of the enterprise to a few key suppliers and of those suppliers to the enterprise demands a level of understanding and trust that is not easily created, but once created must be constantly nurtured. This is likely to be a fragile relationship unless all parties recognize and are willing to work diligently to maintain it.
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From page 80...
... In Gibson's view, "This academic process is patterned after the old Tayloristic suboptimiza'tion of individual operations on a manufacturing line with no thought for overall production efficiency." If, indeed, this is a proper description of the current focus in education, one must ask, as Gibson does, whether we are encouraging the proper outlook and training for those who will manage and operate the next generation of manufacturing enterprise. Gibson has called for a reassessment of the current approach to education for the next generation of practitioners or professionals, whether those pro
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From page 81...
... Some may obtain assistance from the principal customers for their products if those customers happen to be large firms and if the relationships are sufficiently mature to allow an unencumbered exchange of proprietary technical information. Others may be able to use the resources that state governments have introduced to encourage economic development, such as the state technical assistance programs, programs that involve information transfer through centralized data bases, and the research capabilities of local universities and technical colleges.
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From page 82...
... Whatever the source of help, it is clear that small enterprises, which constitute a significant fraction of the manufacturing capability of this nation, deserve considerable attention and assistance. Ensuring that the technological infrastructure of the manufacturing sector viewed in the national sense is being supported at the proper levels presents a particular challenge to all U.S.
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Key Terms

  • competitive environment
  • worldwide competitive
  • successful manufacturing
  • continuous improvement
  • foundations common

  • accepting friendly
  • collective application
  • involve information
  • gibson argues
  • jazz ensemble

  • common practices
  • market pressures
  • ensemble provides
  • single sector
  • developing effective

  • approach established
  • daunting task
  • predominate model
  • fragile relationship
  • particular challenge

  • challenge posed
  • industrial sector
  • academic process
  • examined somewhat
  • strongly held

  • individual operations
  • interim measures
  • little difference
  • sufficiently mature
  • particularly leaders


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