Design and Application of a Development Map for Aligning Strategy and Automation Decisions in Manufacturing SMEs
2023 (English)In: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, ISSN 1868-4238, Vol. 689 AICT, p. 228-241Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The research in this paper focused on (i) to increase the knowledge about the strategic role of automation technology and (ii) how automation technology investment decisions can be aligned with the strategy in manufacturing SMEs. This paper describes the design, application, and evaluation of the Strategic Development Map (SDM) in three settings, whereof two manufacturing SMEs. The SDM was also applied in more than 500 SMEs in a Swedish initiative called the Robot Lift. The SDM was derived from existing literature about Toyota management principles and thereafter adapted to the topic. The process of designing, testing, and evaluating the tool was inspired by design science research. It also contains explanations of the outcomes and mechanisms that lead to the successful adaptation and use of the SDM. The SDM provides a structured guidance process to understand the strategic role of automation technology investments in SMEs. This process can support companies towards a deeper understanding of the current state, target state and obstacles and challenges to reach the target with a focus on automation technology investments. The SDM was emphasized by companies and external coaches as very simple to understand and use. Using the SDM increased involvement and knowledge about strategic role of automation technology.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH , 2023. Vol. 689 AICT, p. 228-241
Keywords [en]
Automation; Design; Industrial research; Automation investment; Automation technology; Design and application; Investment decisions; Management principles; Small and medium-sized enterprise; Strategic development; Strategic role; Technology investments; Toyotum management principle; Investments
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-67673DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-43662-8_17Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85172418909OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-67673DiVA, id: diva2:1814019
Conference
IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems, APMS 2023. Trondheim, Norway. 17 September 2023 through 21 September 2023
Funder
VinnovaKnowledge Foundation
Note
Acknowledgement. The authors wish to thank VINNOVA, the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems for their financial support that enabled the research studies. The first author also wishes to thank KK-foundation for their financial support in the call “Recruitments”.
2023-11-222023-11-222024-05-22Bibliographically approved