Exploring maintenance strategies in Chinese product manufacturing companies
Journal
Management Research News
ISSN
0140-9174
ISSN-Digital
1758-6135
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2008-12-01
Author(s)
Gebauer, Heiko
;
Puetz, Felix
;
Fischer, Thomas
;
Wang, Chunzhi
;
Lin, Jie
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore maintenance strategies for manufacturing equipment in Chinese firms. Data were collected from Chinese companies using a questionnaire administered during face-to-face interviews and two established methodologies in strategic management research, exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis, were used to analyze the data. The results suggest that despite increasing competitive capabilities of Chinese firms, their maintenance strategies are often restricted to corrective maintenance. Only very few Chinese firms have already implemented predictive maintenance approach, total productive maintenance programs or the strategic outsourcing of maintenance activities. The research limitations stem from typical issues related to the use of exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis (for example reliance on the subjective judgment of the researcher or the provision of clusters although no meaningful groups are embedded in the sample). The findings highlight potential strategies for Chinese firms to improve their maintenance management.
This paper deals with a neglected area of operations management by exploring the maintenance approaches in fast growing Chinese manufacturing industries.
This paper deals with a neglected area of operations management by exploring the maintenance approaches in fast growing Chinese manufacturing industries.
Language
English
Keywords
China
Maintenance programmes
Manufacturing industries
Preventive maintenance
HSG Classification
contribution to practical use / society
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Emerald
Publisher place
Bingley
Volume
31
Number
12
Start page
941
End page
950
Pages
10
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
49150