The aim of this research is to study and understand the concept of agility with the aim of
providing a methodology for its implementation in small and medium size manufacturing
organisations (SMEs).
The objectives of the research are:
1. To provide a comprehensive understanding about agility in manufacturing
organisations through a survey of relevant literature.
2. To identify the main elements of the questionnaire assessment tool needed for
agility in manufacturing SMEs.
3. To establish a framework to determine the different between actual and required
level of agility.
4. Demonstrate the utility of the methodology, in order to assist manufacturing SMEs
to adopt agility as a characteristic.
The review of available literature and the work with the collaboration company during the
period of the research led to the development of an agility improvement methodology which
includes a questionnaire assessment tool for small and medium size manufacturing
organisations (SMEs). This assessment tool when used in the case study companies
resulted in successful outcomes in each company.
The applications of the methodology in the eight case study companies confirmed the
applicability of the tool in measuring the level of agility business environment drivers and the
level of agility practices and pinpointed areas for improvement.
The resultsfrom applying the assessment tool in the case study companies confirmed the
wider utility of the methodology used in this research. Each company confirm a willingness to
embark on improvement actions. For each of the eight companies, the results of the
improvement actions demonstrated beneficial tactical outcomes to the satisfaction of the
companies involved. Demonstrating the effectiveness of the methodology when applied to
existing operational activities