A Conceptual Model of Manufacturing Focus

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Abstract
Despite the importance given to manufacturing focus in the literature, the subject area continues to suffer from three interrelated problems: lack of agreement with regard to the meaning of “focus” the absence of a conceptual framework for integrating the existing body of research; and uncertainty with regard to the appropriate direction of future research. These problems should be addressed if the focus literature is to continue to mature, and if the true role of focus is to be understood in the light of the “newer” strategic imperatives, such as time‐based competition and flexible manufacturing. Introduces a conceptual model of focus specifically designed in response to these problems. The conceptual model identifies three distinct dimensions of focus, and relates these to the competitive factors facing manufacturing organizations. It is designed specifically to serve as a tool with which researchers and managers can discuss the impact of focus at the firm level. A review of key works in manufacturing focus is also included to justify the structure of the model, and to show how the model integrates previous conceptual and empirical research on focus.

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