Advanced Manufacturing Technology: Defining the Object and positioning it as an Element of Manufacturing Strategy

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) represent an opportunity for manufacturing firms to improve their competitiveness. In spite of the breadth of literature on the subject, there is a substantial divergence of opinion on what may be considered AMT, and how they may be classified. To confront this issue, the paper presents a review of literature and discusses the existing concepts in AMT research. The paper proposes a definition of AMT which is useful as a means to understanding the boundaries of AMT and discusses various forms of classification. Once the object is defined, AMT is demonstrated as part of Manufacturing Strategy.