An Empirical Research On Implementation Effects Of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Based On Job Characteristics Model

To gain manufacturing performance and competitive advantage, advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) has been introduced and implemented by more and more equipment-manufacturing firms since 1970s. With the extension of "Manufacturing Information Engineering of China", many kinds of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) such as MRP/MRP II /FMS/JIT/CIMS have been introduced into domestic firms. But the implementation of technology brings firms with changes of workflow and working manner revolution, thus the unreasonable job design might block the match between workers and technology, and further lead to unexpected implementation effects. In this way, Job characteristics, as a kind of important factors affecting the implementation effects of AMT, have become the focus in the field of both academy and practice.In order to study the influence of job characteristics on the AMT implementation, this paper adopts empirical method to examine the relationship between job characteristics and the implementation effects of AMT. Through the literature review, experts' interview and firm's investigation, this paper classifies the job characteristics as job autonomy, job responsibility, job complexity and job significance, and develops the job characteristics scale which is applicable to domestic firms. Further this paper examines the scale with the statistical data of Chinese Equipment Manufacturing firms, and concludes with 14 items. Meanwhile, the implementation effects of AMT are classified as operational performance and competitive performance, and the scale of AMT implementation effects including 13 items is developed.Through large-scale questionnaires in 2005 International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition in Shenyang, this paper utilizes the method of correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to discuss the influence of job characteristics on the implementation effects of AMT. With the LISREL8.70, the structural equation of "job characteristicsâ†'atisfactionâ†'implementation effects of AMT" is constructed. The statistical results indicate that:(1) The job responsibility and job significance have positive effects on satisfaction;(2) During the implementation process of AMT, the path of "satisfactionâ†'operational performanceâ†'competitive performance" is proved.The findings provide the guide for firms to improve satisfaction, achieve higher operational performance and further gain higher competitive by reasonable job redesign.