Mass customisation and IT influence on Brazilian health industries' competitiveness. (20th March 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quintella, Heitor Luiz Murat De Meirelles; Carvalho, Jaci Tadeu O.
• Is Part Of: International journal of mass customisation. Volume 2:Number 1/2(2007)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2007-03-20
• Subjects: mass customisation -- dynamic stabilisation -- information technology -- product-process engineering -- strategic alignment -- Brazil -- health industries -- competitiveness; Mass customization -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Automation -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Computer integrated manufacturing systems -- Periodicals; 670.42705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-4208

Abstract

This article analyses the competitiveness of Brazilian medical products and pharmaceutical industries based on the strategic implementation of Information Technology (IT). The model of competitiveness developed by Boynton et al. (1993) – Dynamic Stability and the assessment of IT presence in Porter and Millar's (1985) Value Chain – are the theoretical references of this study. A field research was carried out simultaneously at the Marketing and IT departments of 14 Brazilian plants. Its main goals were to assess how those plants are reacting to the change of the competition pattern, to identify the customisation usage as a competitive differential, and last but not least, to ensure an intensified flow of computer resources. A comparative analysis of data obtained in different field research done in the USA and Brazil also illustrates the viewpoints.