Abstract

In spite of the significant potential competitive advantages of the automated manufacturing technologies generally known as "the factory of the future, " American managers have been hesitant to adopt them. This article reviews a number of applications of such technologies and describes how they were successfully applied to achieve competitive advantage. It then reviews the types of technologies included in the concept of the factory of the future and identifies the costs, benefits, and problems associated with them. The author then outlines the implications of these technologies for business strategy.