The information processing roles for mid-level production management in agile manufacturing

Concurrent with the development of agile manufacturing has been the worldwide managerial initiative to increase productivity and quality through redesigning work processes and procedures. Based on a precept of continuous improvement, this effort has focused on simplifying production processes and eliminating those activities that do not add value to the firm´s output of products and services. Productivity has been enhanced primarily through cost reductions. Associated with these reduction-in-force programs has been an elimination of organizational levels and an empowerment of the work force. Information technologies are responsible for some of the gains in productivity as improvements in information processing capabilities have significantly changed shop floor activities and streamlined the traditional information processing roles of mid-level production managers