Computer integrated manufacturing, and small and medium enterprises

This paper looks at computer integrated manufacturing. It discusses some of the ideas pertaining to the domain and some of the issues for the organisations which apply CIM. It focuses particularly on how developments in the area have affected the competitive position of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). CIM, it argues, represents a potent force for change within industry at large. It is both a response and a contributor to a change which is taking place in the expectations of corporate and individual customers alike. A desire on the part of clients for reliable, cost-effective, high-performance products on the one hand and for individuality and bespoke solutions on the other necessitates systems, structures and organisational cultures which are able to cope effectively with these demands. CIM, and the flexibility which is an essential component of it, are inevitable parts of a well run manufacturing concern's response to these environmental pressures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.