The Impact of Hybrid Manufacturing on the Design and Improvement of Production Processes: An Exploratory Study of the Opinions of a Sample of Workers in the Badoush Cement Factory - Expansion

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to determine the impact of hybrid manufacturing, along with its secondary-dimensions, on the design and enhancement of production processes at the expanded Badoush Cement Plant. The study problem is framed by raising a set of questions, including: Does the management of the researched plant embrace the dimensions of the independent variable (hybrid manufacturing) and the dimensions of the dependent variable (designing and enhancing production processes)? To fulfill the study's objectives and address its inquiries, the researcher adopted a descriptive methodology. Within this framework, a questionnaire was designed as a principal tool for data collection. A total of 245 questionnaires were distributed to a sample of employees at the Badoush Cement Plant. Following the statistical analysis of the data, the study arrived at several significant findings, foremost among which is the plant management's keen interest in augmenting the influence of hybrid manufacturing on the field-level design and enhancement of production processes. This focus stands to ameliorate the dimensions of designing and enhancing production processes more effectively. Additionally, notable recommendations include the plant management's commitment to an avoidance strategy (postponement) to differentiate between production operations by delaying certain crucial production activities until customer orders are received. Subsequently, the production process can be completed, aiming to diminish inventory and expedite meeting customer demands.