Critical success factors for advanced manufacturing systems

This is a field study that surveyed several United States manufacturing firms to investigate the relationship between advanced manufacturing systems (AMS) implementation success and factors that may affect implementation success. Success is measured by such indicators as better return on equity, reduced throughput, and reduced cost, improved quality, enhanced competitiveness, improved work conditions, better control, and quick response. The determinants of AMS implementation success fall into four categories: the triple “C” factors (communication, commitment, coordination), the housekeeping factors (action plan, effective team, vendor support, cost justification, functions integration, and effective facilitator), the self interest factors (employee morale, satisfaction, belief in AMS, appropriate reward), and the literacy factors (understanding of AMS, understanding of firmʹs business, training, clarity of goals/objectives of AMS, expectations).