engleski

Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Performance: Empirical Evidence From Croatia

The literature and empirical studies show that transition countries lag behind developed ones in terms of usage of advanced manufacturing technologies. Even though transition countries try to acquire this technology, the gap between developed countries and transition ones seems to get bigger. Previous research has shown that Croatia as a transition country lags after developed countries such as Germany and in that sense it is important for transition countries to learn how to manage technology to a higher degree. This paper investigates the complex relationships among strategy, advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) and performance using survey responses from 120 Croatian manufacturing firms with over 20 employees. The study explores the link between the manufacturing priorities and used technology, used technology and innovation and finally used technology and business results. The survey considered nineteen most advanced technologies defined by Fraunhofer ISI institute, Karlsruhe, Germany. The survey results show that quality is the dominant competitive priority for Croatian manufacturing, and that innovation and accompanying services are almost unimportant, contrary to advices found in the literature for transition countries. Series of regression analyses showed that enhancement of quality (measured by diminishing scrap rate) can be achieved by using: Technologies for safe human-machine cooperation, Multi-modal programming methods, Processing composite materials, Product Lifecycle Management-Systems and Idea management systems. However, the implemented model showed that only 3% of changes in scrap are due to used technology. Even though innovation is considered unimportant, 25% of changes in revenues from new product are due to used technology. Dominant positive effects on revenues from new products are found using following technologies: Processing composite materials, Nano technological production processes, VR/simulation in production reconfiguration, Product Lifecycle Management-Systems, and Control system for shut down of machines. Finally, the best business results are obtained by using following technologies (21% of changes in profit margin): Automated Warehouse Management Systems, Processing alloy construction materials, Supply chain management with suppliers/customers, Product Lifecycle Management-Systems, Control system for shut down of machines, Recuperation of kinetic and process energy, Power generation by renewable energy and Heat generation by renewable energy. The relevance of this paper is presentation of advanced technologies in Croatia, as defined by Fraunhofer ISI Institute, grounded on literature research and discussed on several brainstorming sessions (on which Croatia was present as well). The literature on Management of technology is systematized and the main problems of implementation of the advanced manufacturing technologies in Croatian enterprises (in terms of date of adoption, level of usage, planned wider usage) are analyzed. It is shown that technology doesn’t improve quality to a larger extent, but improves innovativeness. Finally, some further research questions are laid out.

manufacturing technology; performance; transition countries; Croatia

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