37 research outputs found
Comparing Manufacturing Practices in North America and Western Europe: Are There Any Surprises?
his research tests the broad hypothesis (using data from the Global Manufacturing Re-
search Group) that there are few significant differences in the manufacturing practices of
Western Europe and North America
. The hypothesis holds for the stringent test used in
this paper to disclose the differences
. In general, no surprises were uncovered, but know-
ledge of the differences that were found could be of importance to some firms
American and European Manufacturing Practices
This
paper
presents
a
general
analytical
framework
for
making
bilateral
comparisons
of
manufacturing
practices.
The
approach
suggests
a
grouping
of
the
data,
defines
a
conservative
test
called
a
pure
regional
effect,
and
matches
the
data
types
to
the
appropriate
statistical
tests.
The
methodology
is
used
to
compare
manufacturing
practices
in
North
America
with
those
in
Western
Europe
using
data
compiled
by
the
Global
Manufacturing
Research
Group.
The
broad
hypothesis
tested
is
that
the
two
regions
are
more
similar
than
different.
For
the
two
industries
studied
(small
machine
tools
and
non-
fashion
textiles),
this
hypothesis
holds.
Fewer
than
10%
of
the
119
variables
investigated
have
a
significant
pure
regional
effect.
This
suggests
that
the
lack
of
success
of
joint
ventures
between
North
American
and
European
firms
must
be
attributed
to
factors
other
than
differences
in
manufacturing
practices.
These
variables
for
which
significant
effects
were
found
reflect
differences
in
external
orientation,
asset
utilization
and
the
management
of
details.
Despite
the
overall
similarities,
differences
in
these
factors
could
be
important
for
American
Managers
contemplating
partnerships
with
European
companies