18,690 research outputs found

    A framework to review performance measurement systems.

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    This paper describes a structured review framework for managing business performance. The framework entails the review of both business performance, including thestrategic relevance of the measures, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance measurement system itself. A range of approaches and tools are employed in the framework which features a review card providing a high level view of the review process, showing the different types of review perspectives and their interactions

    Performance Measurement in UK textile & clothing manufacturing SMEs: Regaining the initiative

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    There is no dispute that forward thinking and innovative SMEs are central to modern economies. However, most SMEs suffer from resource constraints and management weaknesses. Policy makers and business organisations have tried to correct these imbalances mainly through fiscal measures. In general, these measures have not been a great success,either in their ability to attract large numbers of SMEs or to promote new sustainable and innovative SMEs. This limited success is often due to failure to identify and meet the needs of SME’s. The difference between organisational success and failure is often in performance measurement and benchmarking practices. Performance measures are vital to assess the health of an organisation, support managers in their decision making processes, and provide focused direction for operations. They allow an organisation to express its strategic intent and demonstrate how that strategy connects with everyday operations, and thus enabling organisational systems to create essential feedback and learning mechanism to support overall organisational goals and sustainable growth in the face of current business pressures of globalisation and profitability. Meaningful and effective performance measurement begins with strategic planning, linked to the periodic planning process of performance reviews and best practice (benchmark) implementation. This concept is well appreciated in larger organisation, unlike in SMEs, particularly those in the textile and clothing manufacturing sector. A number of factors must be responsible for the limited or lack of uptake of performance measurement and benchmarking for positioning for competitive advantage gain in this sector. To explore some of these factors, research findings from an examination of ten case study companies in the North West of England is presented. To explore these factors, research findings from an examination of ten case study companies in the North West of England is presented. The first part of this paper presents the call for review and application of performance measurement in the SMEs sector, particularly those in the UK textile and clothing supply chain. The second part, investigates the significance of the sector in the UK economy, and the third part presents the results from ten case studies carried out analysing business performance in a number of processes including; operations, investments levels and skills and examine some of the issues surrounding performance measurement, and benchmarking, within the manufacturing textile and clothing SMEs in the UK North West. These results suggest that such issues of owner managers ability to adopt and adapt deductive responses to business challenges instead of the current inductive responses which has resulted in their inability to compete against foreign imports needs to be addressed in order for manufacturing companies, particularly those in the textile and clothing sector, to regain the competitive initiative to face global pressures and grow

    The challenges for sustainable skills development in the UK automotive supply sector: policy and implementation

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    Original paper can be found at: http://www.gerpisa.univ-evry.fr/rencontre/16.rencontre/GERPISAJune2008/home.htmlThe European Automotive industry is a key strategic player in the European Union with an estimated 10 million workers. The majority of these work in the supply chain (CLEPA 2005). As a major employer, the sector must work to maintain its competitive edge if it is to keep that workforce engaged.Final Accepted Versio

    SMEs; Virtual research and development (R&D) teams and new product development: A literature review

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    Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are indeed the engines of global economic growth. Their continued growth is a major subject for the economy and employment of any country. Towards that end, virtual research and development (R&D) could be a viable option to sustain and ease the operations of SMEs. However, literature shows there has not been a great deal of research into the diverse characteristic of virtual R&D teams in SMEs. This article provides a comprehensive literature review on different aspects of virtual R&D teams collected from the reputed publications. The purpose of the literature review is to provide an outline on the structure and dynamics of R&D collaboration in SMEs. Specifying the rationale and relevance of virtual teams, the relationship between virtual R&D team for SMEs and new product development (NPD) has been examined. It concludes with identifying the gaps and feebleness in the existing literature and calls for future research in this area. It is argued to form of virtual R&D team deserves consideration at top level management for venturing into the new product development within SMEs

    Virtual R&D teams in small and medium enterprises: a literature review

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    Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the driving engine behind economic growth. While SMEs play a critical role in generating employment and supporting trade, they face numerous challenges, the prominent among them are the need to respond to fasting time-to-market, low-cost and rapid solutions to complex organizational problems. Towards that end, research and development (R & D) aspect deserves particular attention to promote and facilitate the operations of SMEs. Virtual R & D team could be a viable option. However, literature shows that virtual R & D teaming in SMEs is still at its infancy. This article provides a comprehensive literature review on different aspects of virtual R & D teams collected from the reputed publications. The purpose of the state-of-the-art literature review is to provide an overview on the structure and dynamics of R & D collaboration in SMEs. Specifying the foundation and importance of virtual teams, the relationship between virtual R & D team and SMEs has been examined. It concludes with the identification of the gaps in the existing literature's and calls for future research. It is argued that setting-up an infrastructure for virtual R & D team in SMEs still requires a large amount of engineering efforts and deserves consideration at top level management

    SMEs and virtual R&D teams: a motive channel for relationship between SMEs

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    In today?s dynamic marketplace, manufacturing companies are under strong pressure to introduce new products for long-term survival with their competitors. Nevertheless, every company cannot cope up progressively or immediately with the market requirements due to knowledge dynamics being experienced in the competitive milieu. Increased competition and reduced product life cycles put force upon companies to develop new products faster. In response to these pressing needs, there should be some new approach compatible in flexible circumstances. This paper presents a solution based on the popular Stage-Gate system, which is closely linked with virtual team approach. Virtual teams can provide a platform to advance the knowledge-base in a company and thus to reduce time-to-market. This article introduces conceptual product development architecture under a virtual team umbrella. The paper describes all the major aspects of new product development (NPD), NPD process and its relationship with virtual teams, Stage-Gate system finally presents a modified Stage-Gate system to cope up with the changing needs. It also provides the guidelines for the successful implementation of virtual teams in new product development

    Integrated Environmental Process Planning for the Design & Manufacture of Automotive Components

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    Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) logic is widely used by manufacturers for the design and manufacture of automotive components. Manufacturers are increasingly finding difficulties to incorporate environmental considerations in the broad range of products that they manufacture. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic method for environmental process planning to evaluate product configurations and their associated environmental impact. The framework and models discussed in this paper can deal with a variety of product characteristics and environmental impacts through a selection of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs) for a final product configuration. The framework and models have been applied in a real-life application and have proven that changes in product design or process selection can reduce the product's environmental impact and increase process efficiency. Hence, manufacturers can use the framework and models during the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process to benchmark each product variation that they manufacture in a standardised manner and realise cost saving opportunities

    Farm SMEs sustainability assessment based on Bellagio Principles. The case of Messinian Region, Greece

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    Purpose: Sufficient support of the sustainability of farm products embedded in a region (such as Products of Designated Origin / PDOs) to overcome significant obstacles to access domestic and remote markets. Main research question is how to overcome such inherent difficulties and transform them into challenges and opportunities to the new market environment. Design/methodology /approach: Combination of simplicity with the complicated issue of sustainability for awareness of small farmers SMEs and their collective representatives. Improve the understanding of the Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), to facilitate sustainability through use of the ‘Bellagio Principles’ for assessing sustainability of local farm products and facilitating further enhancement. Use of certain PDOs farm products of the Messinian region of Greece, such as local Sfela Feta cheese, olive oil, olives and raisins, to assess sustainability and improvement. Formation of a conceptual constructive action R&D framework of broader use in building-up and performing implementation of holistic supply chain strategy. Expected Findings: Providing better understanding of the SSCM. Insights on how SMEs co-operatives can collectively apply holistic strategies concerning local farm PDOs to fulfil competitiveness and sustainability requirements, under variant product and market conditions. Originality / Value : Improving the know-how, focusing on the sustainability of regional, traditional products and its effects upon supply chain performance and market access. Practical implications for regional-based farm SMEs in the design of holistic value creation strategies to produce sustainable competitive advantage. Interactive cause and effect dynamic implications of sustainable development on social, economic and physical environment
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