Looking ahead by looking back: Swift, even flow in the history of manufacturing

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Schmenner, RW
• 署名单位: Indiana University System; IU Kelley School of Business; Indiana University Indianapolis
• 刊物名称: PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1059-1478
• 发表日期: 2001
• 页码: 87-96
• 关键词: productivity; theory; manufacturing history

摘要

Manufacturing history is too often neglected in operations management and its lessons lost. Its usefulness for testing theory is under-appreciated. This paper uses critical aspects of the history of manufacturing to provide support for the Theory of Swift, Even Flow as an explanation of productivity gain. The rise of Britain in the Industrial Revolution and the rapid overtaking of Britain by the United States and Germany are argued to be thoroughly consistent with Swift, Ever Flow, thereby vindicating both theory and the usefulness of history.