There is now a widely accepted view among manufacturing and service organisations that 'operations' can provide the means of achieving competitive edge. The OMA-UK Sixth International Conference has taken this view as its theme and focuses in particular on how technology and people can be used to improve manufacturing and service competitiveness. These proceedings have been organised according to the topics addressed within the overall conference theme and generally fall within three broad areas: technology-based topics, human resource-based topics and general topics. The technology-based topics are: Materials Control, Supply Chain Management and Logistics Flexibility in Operations Systems Computer-Aided Management of Operations Design, Process Planning and 'Time to Market' Factors Application of KBS, Expert Systems and Modelling Production Planning and Control The human resource-based topics are: Work Organisation Human Factors Managing the Implementation of Technology Managing the Quality Improvement Process Education Training and Development Employee Participation and Involvement The general topics are: Operations Strategy International Comparisons and Country-based Papers Performance and Productivity Measurement and Improvement A particular feature of all the papers is that they emphasise the application of techniques, technologies and concepts rather than concentrating on specific functional description. The authors are drawn from around 14 countries and represent both the academic and industrial communities. Many are involved in the 'mainstream' of operations management while a number are from other disciplines relevant to the conference theme, such as industrial engineering and organisational behaviour.

Operations Strategy

Problems in Operations Strategy Development: Reconciling Theory with Practice
The Role of Education and Training in the Implementation of a Manufacturing Strategy
Measuring Product Goal Congruence: A Case Study
Materials Control, Supply Chain Management and Logistics
An Integrated Supply Chain Management Strategy
Reorganisation of Material Flow for Natural Grouped Assembly Work - Some Principles and Results from Action Research
A Model for Evaluating Manufacturing System Time Performances
The Impact of Electronic Data Interchange on Inventory Replenishment Policy for a Single Item, Single Supplier, Multiple Buyers System
Supply Networks and the Changing Role of Operations Managers
Flexibility in Operations Systems
The Flexibility of Three Manufacturing Planning and Control Systems
The Effective Implementation and Operation of Flexible Manufacturing Systems
Production Technology and Flexibility in the UK Steel Industry
Flexible Automation and Small Enterprises
Design of Production Systems for Batch Production in Short Series to Reduced Lead Time
Evaluating Flexible Manufacturing Technologies: A research agenda for investment decision theory
Computer-Aided Management of Operations
Manufacturing-Oriented Simulation for Production Mannagement
Computer Aided Production Management: An Example of Organization and Technology Systems
A Methodology for the Implementation of Integrated CAPM Systems
Images and Realities in the Computerisation of Managerial Work: Case Studies of Computer-Aided Production Management
The Strategic Evaluation of R&D Projects Through the use of VERT
Work Organization
The Competitive Advantage of Autonomous Work Groups in a Changed Environment
Competing via Alternative Work Organizations: The Case of Car Assembly in Sweden
The Implementation of Group Assembly Methods in a Medium-sized Scottish Manufacturing Company: First Results and Comparisons with Conventional Assembly Methods
Consequences for Final Assembly, Pre-production and Design of Natural Grouped Assembly Work and Materials Handling: Methods and Experience
Competitive Edge Through Flexible Work Organization: Evidence from the UK Electronics Industry
Design of The Operation/Maintenance Interface in Highly Mechanized Flows
Learning Curves for Extended Work Cycles Within Assembly
A Method to Evaluate the Flexibility of Autonomous Work Groups
Human Factors
Top Management Commitment?
Improving Manufacturing Competitiveness through Human Performance Engineering
The Workforce in the Year 2000: Technology Focuses on the Older Worker
Managing the Implementation of Technology
Critical Implementation Decisions for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Implementing Change Strategies:Towards a Framework for Aligning Implementation to a Situation Specific Context
Integrating Technology and Organisation in the Implementation of CAD/CAM
Managing the Manufacturing Technology Transfer Process: Experience of UK-Based Firms
Factory 2000: Organisation Design for the Factory of the Future
A Study of Introducing Foreign Technology for the Development of Shanghai's Industry
The Enterprise Design Manifesto: A New Approach to Computer Systems Development
Design, Process Planning and 'Time to Market' Factors
Manufacturing and Product Development by Symbiotic Co-operation in Small Scale Industries
How to Achieve Competitive Edge by Simultaneous Process Engineering
The Need for Parallel Planning Systems for Operational Planning within Batch Production
Feature-Based Component Model for Computer Aided Process Planning Systems
Competitive Product Design Strategies in the UK Mechanical Engineering Industry
The Corporate Learning Process in the Context of Electronics Product Development
International Comparisons and Country-based Papers
Competition By Effective Management Of Multicultural Groups
Comparing CAD Implementation in Engineering Firms in Brazil, Canada and the United States: The Need for "Engimation"
Case Studies: Processes and Problems on the Early Stage of Localization
Innovating for Survival: Problems of Small Businesses During the Transition of the Economy in the ex GDR
The Future Implementation and Consequences of Advanced Manufacturing Techniques in Dutch Industrial Enterprises: Results from a Delphi-research
Service Operations
The Operations Management Challenge in the Delivery of Complex Human Services
After Sales Support Strategy: A Research Agenda
Applying Service Concepts in Manufacturing
Assessing Consumer Perceptions of Service Quality: Experiences from Application of SERVQUAL and Considerations for Further Development.
Application of KBS, Expert Systems and Modelling
A Prototype of an Expert System for Solving Maintenance Budgeting Problems
A Fuzzy Expert System for Adjustment of Color Display Monitor
Operations Management in Integrated Markets: A Conceptual Model
A Cobweb Model and its Application
Production Planning and Control
A Hybrid Push/Pull Production Control System for Multi-stage Manufacturing Processes
Effective Implementation of Master Production Scheduling Systems Using a Gap Analysis Approach
Strategic Capacity Planning and Shop Floor Control in Jobbing Production
On Order Loading Operation Management System for MRP: Mathematical Model versus Knowledge Based Approach
Improvement of Error Terms and Its Effect on Production Inventory Systems
Manufacturing Resource Planning: "Some Salient Issues"
Performance and Productivity Measurement and Improvement
Quality Information Management for Improving Productivity in Japan
Improving the Labour Efficiency of a Partially Automated Warehouse: A Case Study from the Flour Milling Industry
Improving Manufacturing Performance Through the Application of Just in Time Techniques
Managing the Quality Improvement Process
Steps and Activities for a Customer-Driven Quality Strategy
Improvement Through People: A Practical Approach that Works
Technology and the Drive for Quality: A Study of Survival in the Foundry Industry
Total Quality Management in the Construction Industry - A Competitive Edge
Implementing Total Quality: Erecting Tents or Building Palaces
Two Approaches to Revolution in Manufacturing
Education, Training and Development
Educational Programs in Management of Technology
Training for Cultural Change in a Brownfield Site: A Progress Report
Economic Regeneration in the North East of England: Developing Strategic Viable Systems for Small and Medium Size Enterprises
The Influence of Director's "Qualifications" on Profitability in UK Manufacturing Companies
Management Education and Training in the Small Firm
Undergraduate Studies in Food and Beverage Operations Management
Employee Participation and Involvement
Unions and Productivity: Convergence or Divergence in Perceptions?
Work Teams in Four Irish Manufacturing Subsidiaries
Manufacturing Performance and Employee Involvement
Creating a Successful Team (Unleashing Employee Power)
Author Index.