Performance measurement and the focused factory: empirical evidence

Reviews the scale and scope of existing survey‐based studies of manufacturing plants and discusses the contribution which the UK Best Factory Awards Database may be able to make. Outlines the process of selecting the winners, proposes a working model which relates performance and strategy, and presents some initial illustrative results from an analysis of the 1993 entrants. Briefly discusses the feedback information which entering plants receive for benchmarking performance. Presents initial research findings which relate to the concept of manufacturing plant focus and indicates an asymmetric relationship for focus concerned with make‐for‐stock versus make‐to‐order/assembly to order foci. The evidence supports the view that dilution of a make‐for‐stock policy has a negative impact on ex‐stock service level while dilution of a make‐to‐order policy does not appear to dilute due‐date performance.