Implementation of manufacturing strategy: a multisector study of the Indian manufacturing industry

The paper presents findings of a multisector study conducted in the Indian manufacturing industry. This includes four sectors, i.e., automobile, electronics, machinery and process sector companies. In this research, a structured questionnaire methodology is used to assess various manufacturing strategy issues. The final version of the questionnaire is administered in 345 manufacturing companies in all parts of India and 120 filled responses (with 34.8% response rate) were analysed. The findings suggest that Indian companies give greater emphasis on infrastructural issues and their investment in improvement activities following the SIA (Simplify (AMS) ? Integrate (IIS) ? Automate (AMT)) model. Sector-specific and general competitive priorities and improvement activities are identified and presented. It seems that the automobile and electronics sectors were exposed to global competition much faster, as compared to the machinery and process sectors.