Relationship between manufacturing and design departments: an empirical validation of a theoretical framework

Dean and Susman (1989) give four arrangements (design having a veto, manufacturing having a veto, use of integrators to co-ordinate activities of design and manufacturing, use of matrix structure) that define relationship of design and manufacturing functions. In this paper we relate these to the strategy of the firm (Miles and Snow et. al, 1978). This relationship is given in the form of hypotheses. We argue that in 'defenders' manufacturing will have the 'veto' over design; in 'prospectors' design will have the 'veto' over manufacturing; where as 'analyzers' will use 'integrators' to co-ordinate activities of design and manufacturing. This framework was supported by a sample data of twenty firms having design and manufacturing departments.
Keywords: relationship of design and manufacturing functions, veto with design, veto with manufacturing, integrators for design and manufacturing functions
1. INTRODUCTION