Comparing Manufacturing Practices in North America and Western Europe: Are There Any Surprises?

his research tests the broad hypothesis (using data from the Global Manufacturing Re- search Group) that there are few significant differences in the manufacturing practices of Western Europe and North America . The hypothesis holds for the stringent test used in this paper to disclose the differences . In general, no surprises were uncovered, but know- ledge of the differences that were found could be of importance to some firms

GMRG survey research in operations management

The Global Manufacturing Research Group (GMRG) is an informal group of researchers conducting operations management research throughout the world. Describes aspects of their survey research on manufacturing practices. Presents the background of the project, a bit about the group itself, and specifics on getting involved in the group. Presents the principles which guided the first and second rounds of the GMRG global survey and the theory underlying their survey instrument and its revision. Finally, provides several details of the research methodology and some of the research findings.</jats:p