Indicator analysis of the technological position of a manufacturing company

Abstract

A turbulent manufacturing market, especially in the metal industry, determines the quality of products and the level of production efficiency, which contributes to a company's market position and competitiveness. The aim of the study was to develop a model to define a manufacturing company's current market position using KPIs in relation to a key product - gearbox casting. The company's position was defined in terms of the relationship occurring between technological capabilities and market position. An additional aim of the study was to identify critical determinants and, ultimately, to identify conditions for strengthening market position. As a test of the proposed model, the position of the analysed company (in terms of technological capabilities and market position) was defined as "Search for occasions" - box 9 within the 3×3 matrix. Technological determinants that weaken the company's position (low level of maintenance capacity and long production cycle time) and determinants with a strong negative impact on market position (low level of human resource development) were identified. An element of novelty is the use of KPIs as variables determining the position of the company within the 3×3 matrix, which is indicative of a specific technological position in the market. Further lines of research will concern the determination of appropriate KPIs in relation to the identified critical areas of the company. Subsequent steps will concern the implications of the model in relation to the company's other key aluminium alloy castings.

Keywords

• key performance indicators
• metal industry
• quality management
• mechanical engineering
• index analysis