How Advanced is Modern Chinese Manufacturing Management?

Impressions garnered from a six week teaching spell in China suggest that expanding capacity is causing problems in production flow and inventory organisation. Inadequate databases contribute to excess inventories and ineffective materials, labour and equipment management. Production managers have wide responsibilities and do not delegate; they lack time for strategic planning. Planning procedures are old‐fashioned, quality control is poor and quality and price are not competitive. There is over‐reliance on imported materials. The primary need is for training of managers and technicians to promote better planning.