Shared Manufacturing: A Global Perspective

The resources critical to manufacturing - technical expertise, state-of-the-art technologies, equipment, and management systems - aren't easy to come by for small sized manufacturers. If you're an executive or production, you can improve your company's access to these vital resources and enhance its productivity and competitiveness. You'll find out how in this policy guide to shared manufacturing - the strategic response to global giants and the international marketplace. Shared manufacturing - the network sharing of resources by companies with similar needs - has already improved the bottom line for many small and midsized manufacturers in western Europe and the Pacific Rim. This book brings you case studies of successful shared manufacturing networks in the United States and abroad. It also gives you a thorough introduction to the rationale and logistics of shared manufacturing. You'll learn details on shared manufacturing facilities in the United states; how to develop shared manufacturing assistance centers (MACs) driven by customer needs; what managerial issues arise in a shared manufacturing network - and how to address them; guidelines for identifying strategic alliances - shared manufacturing networks that improve your company's market position. Here you'll discover how manufacturers are using cooperation to become more competitive. You'll also be able to provide policy guidance to your company in implementing a powerful new strategy for the growing global competition of the 1990s.