Adopting Manufacturing Flexibility to Achieve Competitive Advantage in a Global Economy
Considering the requirements of the market and the effects of globalization, this research investigates the concept of manufacturing flexibility and underlines its potential to enhance competitive advantage. To explore its various aspects and its effects on operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and adaptability to market fluctuations, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach that integrates literature review and case analyses of global manufacturing companies. The results suggest that manufacturing flexibility significantly enhances operational efficiency and the ability to adapt to uncertain market conditions. Additionally, the research adopts a multidisciplinary perspective to analyze current shifts in corporate organizational strategies and their effects on employment and industrial structures. It develops a model based on competencies that combines internal management practices with external relationships into a cohesive analytical framework. This model demonstrates how companies adapt to new competitive challenges by effectively managing their capabilities. The study also discusses the evolution of global production networks, focusing on crucial elements such as geography, activity, and power dynamics. From the lens of labor market segmentation theory, it evaluates the employment outcomes associated with network-based organizational forms and competency-centric strategies, highlighting the emergence of new patterns of employment segmentation within and among firms. The research points out the most common global network organizational frameworks that alter the creation and distribution of value in international industries. The conclusion of the study emphasizes the critical need for innovative policies to strike a balance between competitive pressures from one firm to another and within firms, alongside the challenges and obstacles in achieving this aim.
