AGILITY: THRIVING ON CONTINUOUS CHANGE

1994; Linguagem: Inglês

ISSN

0739-7100

Autores

J M Losh,

Tópico(s)

Collaboration in agile enterprises

Resumo

The author, Chief Financial Officer, General Motors Corporation, in addressing the subject of agility in the automotive industry, sees agility as the ability to thrive in a continuously changing and often unpredictable environment. Such agility must include a reason and an ultimate purpose that looks beyond unpredictable outside indicators and focuses on attaining long-term competitive advantage. At GM, that reason and ultimate purpose is found in enthusiasm. Customer needs and preferences drive product, process, and service. And that end purpose puts a premium on becoming more agile in product design, manufacturing, and marketing and distribution. From this point of view, engineering technology and the manufacturing process exist solely to be responsive to the customer. Examples of this at GM include the shutdown, rebuilding and retooling of the Oshawa plant in order to build the new Lumina; alternative work arrangements at a number of plants; marketing of the Saturn where customer enthusiasm was created throughout the ownership experience; in England, delivering vehicles from vehicle storage centers (97% within 4 days); and building cars such as the Opel Corsa. At GM constancy of purpose revolves around three key principles: customer enthusiasm, a global vision, and a commitment to long-term profitability.

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