An innovative model to enhance engineer-to-order companies operational efficiency conceived using axiomatic design theory

ABSTRACT

The paper introduces the E.OpEx (ETO Operation Excellence) Model, a new framework to improve operational efficiency in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing companies. The study used a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and surveys to identify critical challenges in the ETO sector, which were prioritized through criticality analysis. The research applied Axiomatic Design (AD) theory to address these challenges and create structured solutions. The E.OpEx Model offers practical guidelines for resource management, workflow optimization, and customer satisfaction, aligning with the operational goals of ETO companies. Input from a Focus Group (FG) of industry experts was crucial in refining the model and identifying areas for improvement and practical integration with existing methodologies. This research also contributes to the application of AD to tackle operational challenges and proposes a model that enhances practices and lays the foundation for future innovations. Future research will focus on validating the E.OpEx Model in diverse ETO settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Axiomatic design
• engineer-to-order
• operational performance
• resource allocation
• workflow management

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.