A strategic framework for technical function management in manufacturing

Abstract Driven by the enhanced technological sophistication of products and production processes, the requirement to improve manufacturing plant return on investment and the need to better manage scarce technical resources, more firms are focusing on the activities of their technical functions. As many firms achieve or approach “best practice” in their organisational arrangements and management of human resources, there is an increasing recognition of the opportunities to enhance competitiveness through improved management of technology and technical functions. There is also substantial evidence to suggest that the development of new technology is occurring much faster than is the development of new approaches with which to manage it. This paper develops a framework, “technical effort”, through which to view technical activity in the context of improved business and organisational performance. This framework differs from traditional practice by integrating three different perspectives: maximising the contribution of technical functions to business outcomes, developing a sustainable source of competitive advantage in the form of an order winning set of technical capabilities and creating the working environment through which these requirements may be energised. It serves as a useful tool for Operations Managers to improve the strategic value of their technical functions by focusing learning on the linkages between business competitiveness, technical function outcomes, technical capabilities and organisational best practices.