A framework for manufacturing excellence

The role of maufacturing within the organisation, world class manufacturing (WCM) and manufacturing strategy are outlined. The need for a practical method to establish the steps required for the implementation of excellence within manufacturing is identified. Focus is on pilot studies conducted at “best practice” companies to establish the existence of a generic process that maufacturing companies can follow in order to become excellent. The knowledge obtained is used to develop a framework for pursuing manufacturing excellence. The framework shows how initiatives and their enablers combine to directly link the strategic level of the organisation down to those activities at the operating level of the business which contribute most to manufacturing excellence.