The effects of manufacturing strategy (MS) and technology (T) on performance have been
studied separately, but few studies have examined the relationship between MS and T practices
clusters that improve effectiveness when implemented jointly, and even then they do not
consider possible congruency between the two. This paper develops a congruency (selection)
model to test for any interconnection between said clusters, without addressing causation or their
combined effect on performance. The implicit outcome is that the plant will achieve a desirable
effectiveness level. Through a wide-ranging survey of auto supplier plants, two approaches are
considered: 1) grouping both clusters in pairs (canonical correlation analysis); and 2) a more
general selection view version, with practices from both clusters related multidimensionally and
subordinated by bivariate analysis (regression) to test for any congruent pattern. Both methods
find a congruent relationship between manufacturing strategy and technology practice clusters,
although the second provides greater detail.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia DPI-2006-0553
