The Relationship of Product Flexibility, Cost, Quality and Business Performance - An Empirical Study of Mainboard Manufacturing Firms in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Chia-Hung Chen, 陳家鴻
• Other Authors: Shih-Chia Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1999
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/45864462170023250275

碩士 === 銘傳大學 === 管理科學研究所 === 87 === The manufacturing flexibilities have become increasingly important at the competition circumstance with shorter product life cycles and quickly change of market''s demand and customers'' needs. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between product flexibility with cost, quality and business performance. First, we divide product flexibility into two instinct types named product range flexibility and product mobility flexibility. Besides, the study also constructs the relationship model of product flexibility capabilities, manufacturing cost, conformance quality and business performance. Then we use Path-Analysis method to testify our empirical data from the mainboard manufacturing firms in Taiwam. The conclusions are as follows: （1） Greater product mobility flexibility and product range flexibility may have negative effects on conformance quality capability of a firm, and better product range flexibility may increase manufacturing cost. （2） Better product range flexibility and product mobility flexibility or lower manufacturing cost are good for profit rate and sales growth of a firm. Otherwise, better conformance quality capability is also good for sales growth. （3） The direct positive effects of product flexibility to business performance are bigger than the indirect negative effects of product flexibility to business performance through manufacturing cost and conformance quality.