This paper proposes a new concept in Production Management: Strategic Manufacturing Management Paradigms (SMMPs). This new concept involves an integrated and comparative approach to the manufacturing management paradigms that emerged along the 20th century. To this end, four key elements that are common to all SMMPs are identified: guiders (market conditions that allow for or require SMMP implementation); performance goals (the strategic manufacturing goals prioritized by the SMMPs); principles (the basic ideas that guide the SMMPs); and enablers (the SMMPs' tools, technologies and methods). The main contributions of this paper are: i) the presentation of a conceptual model that associates the SMMPs to strategic manufacturing goals; and ii) to allow for comparisons and analyses of manufacturing paradigms, facilitating their study and practical application. The proposed model takes a highly pragmatic approach to strategic Production/Operations Management issues.
strategic manufacturing management paradigms; mass production; lean manufacturing; responsive manufacturing; mass customization; agile manufacturing
