Strategy, advanced manufacturing technology and performance: empirical evidence from US manufacturing firms

This study investigates the complex relationships among strategy, advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) and performance using survey responses from 160 U.S. manufacturing firms. In contrast to previous studies that emphasize only the flexibility dimension of AMT, this study adopts a multidimensional view of AMT by stressing the information processing capability inherent in AMTs. The study found support for four dimensions of AMT: information exchange and planning technology (IEPT), product design technology (PDT), low-volume flexible automation technology (LVFAT), and high-volume automation technology (HVAT). The results found also indicate empirical support for the study's major premise that a fit between certain strategy-AMT dimensions will be associated with superior performance. Using the findings, the study discusses the implications of the findings and suggests several avenues for future research. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.