Enablers and Disablers for Operational Integration in a Craft Oriented- versus a Mass Production Enterprise

Abstract : Companies today are struggling to cope with ever changing requirements arising from environmental concerns and increasing competition. Hence it is important to innovate, improve, and increase efficiency by achieving streamlined value chains. In this paper we examine both a single craft-oriented leisure boat producer and a car component mass producer to find similarities and differences with regard to operational integration in these two types of organizations. The study is based on interviews and field studies carried out at the production line. From this study several common enablers for integration are found: informal culture and little hierarchy, little distance between process steps and mutual rewards. The differences were found in degree of standardization and formalization, connecting links between departments and knowledge of overall and departmental strategy.