Collaborative Alliance for the Implementation of Computer Integrated Manufacturing in Small and Medium Enterprises

Abstract

For all small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the long term goal is to stay in business, grow, and make profit, especially for manufacturing SMEs that must understand the dynamic changes that are taking place in the business environment. For SMEs to remain competitive, they must deliver products to customers at the minimum possible cost, the best possible quality, and the minimum lead time starting from the product conception stage to final delivery, service, and disposal (Marri, Gunasekaran, Kobu, & Grieve, 2002). SMEs can achieve this goal by implementing computer integrated manufacturing (CIM). The aim of CIM is to produce the required amount of the product of acceptable quality at the right time. If CIM technologies are fully integrated, the SMEs can respond rapidly to changes in product design, demand, or mix. The high investment required for AMT implementation is becoming a major hurdle for SMEs to cross. This is due to lack of financial resources which has stalled the initiative in adopting CIM. Undoubtedly, this has caused a decrease in rate of adoption of CIM in SMEs. With the collaborative alliance, CIM can successfully be implemented in SMEs.