An exploratory study of contingency variables that affect the conversion to cellular manufacturing systems

Abstract

This study views the conversion processes to cellular manufacturing as an aggregation of cause-and-effect relationships among many strategic, managerial, and technical variables. Successful conversions to cellular manufacturing systems require that management, fully understand these interacting variables and possible relationships between the variables. The purpose of this study is to assist such management's needs in part. The objectives of this research are (1) to explore contingency variables that may affect manufacturing cell design processes and outcomes, and (2) to seek relationships between selected contingency variables and the cell design processes and outcomes. Literature review and the mail survey method were used. The results were compared and synthesized with findings of previous studies for drawing useful discussions. Some previous arguments and propositions were empirically supported. For example, many organizational constraints are related to cell design outcomes.