Two-tiered measurement systems in modernizing plants

In this study we predicted and found evidence to support two general themes about new production systems measurement. First, there are two tiers of measures that are becoming popular to gauge performance. These two tiers are relatively independent-system-level measures like uptime, and business-level outcomes like return on investment. Second, when measures from these two categories are significantly correlated, they are likely to be for the time or flexibility measures at the system level. The rationale for this thesis is that modernization programs implement the leading edge of manufacturing strategies, and time or flexibility are replacing quality as priorities in leading-edge domestic manufacturing.