Towards agile manufacturing: models of competition and performance outcomes

This paper reports a study which identified significant relationship between models of competitive manufacturing and business performance outcomes. The paper discusses the nature and importance of competitive objectives and their impacts on business performance. The results presented are based on the findings of a survey by questionnaire administered to 600 companies. Statistical tests identified the models of competition and revealed significant differences in performance outcomes. The study showed that flexibility is superior to leanness but that it may add more to costs than to revenue. Suggestions for surviving flexibility trap enroute agile manufacturing were offered. The paper is significant as such studies have not been well documented.