Strategy and the Shopfloor: A One‐way Initiative?

The study of manufacturing strategy has now become established. But what about the shopfloor where it is supposed to be implemented? How well is this understood? This article follows through the strategy logic and then creates a complementary model for understanding the working of the shopfloor dynamics. The inter‐relationships between strategy and the shopfloor are then explained through these joint models and the outcome of four strategic changes examined through these. The implications for management are stated.