Key practices, manufacturing capability and attainment of manufacturing goals: The perspective of project/engineer-to-order manufacturing

Project manufacturing or engineer-to-order (ETO) manufacturing is an operation designed to provide unique but similar products. For ETO manufacturing, every product is the ultimate result of a project. In addition, unique orders may be managed like a project. The primary purpose of this study was to validate a model for assessing the relationships among manufacturing practice, manufacturing capability, and attainment of manufacturing goals from the perspective of project manufacturing. The analyses suggest that implementation of manufacturing practices in terms of production planning, quality management, human resource management, and capacity management may improve manufacturing capability. The results also imply that manufacturing capability may enhance attainment of project manufacturing goals. Furthermore, the findings indicate that stability of supplier's manufacturing acts as a moderator between manufacturing practice and manufacturing capability. Finally, the positive association between manufacturing capability and attainment of project manufacturing goals depends on process maturity, complexity, time availability, and team size.

► Implementation of key practices may improve manufacturing capability.
► Manufacturing capability may enhance attainment of project manufacturing goals.
► Supplier's manufacturing plays an important role in manufacturing capability.
► Process maturity and project characteristics influence project manufacturing.