Abstract
The study assesses the effectiveness of the determinants of a manufacturing strategy to a content-based service and the impact it has on competitiveness, capability and performance which will result in optimum productivity or unproductivity in a manufacturing company as a sustainable measure in manufacturing firm facing economic peril. The objective of the study is to conduct a detailed theoretical study on the significant facets involved in manufacturing strategies and its impact on capability, performance and competitiveness within the South African steel industry. Numerous aspects of capability, performance and strategies with particular relation to maintainable competitive advantage are deliberated in the literature study. Throughout the literature, several factors endorsing or hampering effective impacts of manufacturing strategies are acknowledged and lessons learned by other strategy driven companies are discussed.
Life-threatening success factors for a fruitful manufacturing strategy program are discussed. Need fulfilment, responsiveness, security and technical functionality of the company are shown to influence productivity. The study includes research on whether manufacturing strategy is effectively used as a sustainable competitive advantage in the South African steel industry. Studies are undertaken to assess the capability, competence and capacity of manufacturers. In broad terms this assignment follows a structured approach looking at methodologies, tools and techniques utilized in the area of Operations Management. The manufacturing strategy will be reviewed in detail and the objective would be to ensure total clarity and transparency in crafting the strategic direction of the organisation. The manufacturing strategy will be reviewed in detail and the objective would be to ensure total clarity and transparency in crafting the strategic direction of the organization, in simple terms: “what we want to achieve and how do we get there.”
As regards the current state of manufacturing strategy to the South African manufacturing industry edge, this is not well known and has little media attention.
M.Tech.