Modelling of Prime Agile Enablers: People, Virtual Integration and Information Technology

Agile manufacturing has successfully established its importance in dealing with dynamic demand of customer and market. A survey based study has been conducted with an aim to identify main predictors of agile manufacturing enablers and to develop a model for agile manufacturing enablers. The framed hypotheses for the four sections of agility enablers were tested by ANOVA. Four sections of enabler were organization's people, organization's virtual integration & collaboration, organization's information technology & communication, and organization's tools & technology. Principal component analysis was applied to identify main components of agile enablers. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to generate model for agile manufacturing enablers. Analytical hierarchy process has been used to rank the variables of components pictured in linear regression model. Afterward, a complete regression model has been prepared with the help of priority vectors generated by AHP. The variables information system interface with customers, employee's empowerment, sharing of concepts and CAD/CAM found as the most important agile enablers. Therefore, these agile enables need high attention to make an organization agile. The status of agile enablers in Indian manufacturing industries has been calculated and it is found that the level of agile enablers in Indian manufacturing industries is quite low.