| Manufacturing enterprises prosper and grow through a process of continually improving productivity within the production system. Productivity optimization is not an option; it is daily act of survival. This dissertation investigates the proposition that manufacturing productivity optimization is achieved through integrated development and deployment of technology, organizational design, and manufacturing methods and practices. Sociotechnical Systems Theory is an open systems model that presents a framework to view the production system as a collection of technical elements that include work methods and practices, individual and collective organizational knowledge, and technological tools. The sociotechnical system also includes a social dimension consisting of work roles and relationships, informal relationships between groups, and social structures within the organization. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is used as an appropriate metric for production system productivity. This dissertation investigation develops a model for sociotechnical systems design that identifies specific technical and social elements to optimize production system productivity.;Keywords: Manufacturing Productivity, Productivity, Total Productive Manufacturing, Lean Manufacturing, Overall Equipment Efficiency, Overall Equipment Effectiveness... |
