Organisational characteristics of group technology manufacturing systems

The purpose of the investigation recorded in this paper was to find out what, if any, differences exist in the organisational characteristics of firms that use a Group Technology approach and those that use other methods of manufacturing organisation. Four firms, all well-established in the operation of GT systems, were investigated and their organisational characteristics compared with firms of similar product ranges covered in the Woodward surveys. While structural changes in organisation had been made in the Group Technology firms, it was found that these did not take them outside the broad limits of the staff and other ratios of the comparison base. The variations found may be indicative but are not definitive. The investigation shows the need firstly for better identification of socio-technical systems used in firms of all types and the reasons for their adoption, and secondly for recognition that the situation in any efficient firm is dynamic and will change from year to year to meet the needs of the situation with the resources available.