Learning from World Class Manufacturers

Manufacturing managers are still focused on the short-term tactical issues related to their business. Strategic issues tend to receive less attention. However, manufacturing can play an important strategic role. Learning From World Class Manufacturers 2012 helps managers consider the strategic roles their operations can play and provides guidance as to what actions can be taken.

MAREK SZWEJCZEWSKI is a Reader in Innovation and Operations Management, and he is also Director of the renowned Best Factory Awards. Prior to joining Cranfield, Szwejczewski worked for several years in industry; he held management positions in a variety of industries ranging from retail to telecommunications. As Director of the Best Factory Awards program, he has received significant public and private funding for his research on factory performance in the UK and has co-authored several major reports. He is also Director of the Global Manufacturing Roundtable; the roundtable's researchers work with manufacturing companies on projects to improve operational competitiveness and performance. Szwejczewski has been involved in various large research projects; he was co-investigator on a major European Commission project examining the impact of organizational innovation on performance. He has also led a major research project, funded by European Pharmaceutical companies, which investigated best practice in innovation management. One element of the project examined which new market research techniques (such as ethnography) were being used by innovative companies. Szwejczewski has published extensively in both academic (e.g. Journal of Operations Management and International Journal of Operations and Production Management) and practitioner journals. He has authored numerous articles and reports on supplier management, innovation, manufacturing performance, and manufacturing strategy. He has advised a wide range of organizations, including Dairy Crest, Pilkington, and Schering. Szwejczewski's current research interests are manufacturing strategy, identifying customer hidden needs, supplier management, sustaining change initiatives, and new product portfolio management.