Identifying organizational requirements for the implementation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT)

AMT selection and adoption processes have been extensively studied. Topics that include financial and human factors, productivity, and coordination of the AMT implementation establish a substantial content of the present research agenda. The purpose of this paper is to study the organizational factors that influence the AMT implementation, considering a manufacturing strategy context and an analysis based on an organizational design framework. The research strategy is based on ‘empirical iterations’ using survey secondary data, experts’ interviews information and multiple case studies. The results show that there is a set of recommendations, which strongly influence the AMT implementation. Companies require a structured and integrative approach for the AMT implementation in order to take advantage of all their individual and systemic benefits. The set of proposed AMT recommendations for integrating these technologies to the organizational design are framed by structural, process and contextual aspects.

► The research strategy is based on ‘empirical iterations’ using survey secondary data, experts’ interviews information and multiple case studies. ► Companies require a structured and integrative approach for AMT implementation in order to take advantage of all their individual and systemic benefits. ► The research highlights the importance of defining a coordination group to manage the whole process of AMT selection, adoption and implementation. ► The set of proposed AMT recommendations for integrating these technologies to the organizational design are framed by structural, process and contextual aspects.