To read this content please select one of the options below:

Exploring the archetypes of engineer-to-order: an empirical analysis

Olga Willner (: BWI Center for Industrial Management, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland)
Daryl Powell (Department of Production and Quality Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)
Markus Gerschberger (Logistikum, University of Applied Science Upper Austria, Steyr, Austria)
Paul Schönsleben (BWI Center for Industrial Management, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland)

International Journal of Operations & Production Management

ISSN: 0144-3577

Article publication date: 7 March 2016

2464

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize archetypes of engineer-to-order (ETO) to support companies in determining the appropriate degree of design standardization and automation, and as a result achieve superior performance. Products of ETO manufacturers are classified in a 2×2 matrix using annual units sold and engineering complexity as dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a theory refining approach based on multiple case studies. Seven ETO manufacturers from different industry sectors participated in the study. Data collection was primarily based on a series of in-depth interviews supported by observations and archival sources.

Findings

The paper proposes four distinct archetypes of ETO (complex, basic, repeatable, and non-competitive) and empirically validates three of them. The organizational structures and processes most suitable for the different archetypes are described, and standardization and automation strategies are linked to the quadrants of the matrix. The matrix can support practitioners in making strategic choices and provides a framework for benchmarking their ETO products and processes.

Originality/value

Existing conceptualizations of ETO consider the company as the primary object of investigation, rather than the product or product family. However, companies often have different product families demanding different strategies. Also, there is little or no focus on the engineering perspective. The authors move the engineering perspective to the center of investigation and identify a set of standardization and automation strategies for different types of ETO products.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the research projects FastETO (CTI No. 15021.2 PFES-ES) and SFI Norman (Norwegian Manufacturing Future). The authors would like to thank all organizations participating in the case study for sharing their insights in the field of ETO. The authors also greatly appreciate the constructive comments and suggestions from the two anonymous reviewers, which helped improve this paper.

Citation

Willner, O., Powell, D., Gerschberger, M. and Schönsleben, P. (2016), "Exploring the archetypes of engineer-to-order: an empirical analysis", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 242-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-07-2014-0339

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles