Obstacles to computer integrated manufacturing success: A study of practitioner perceptions

This study investigated practitioner perceptions of obstacles to computer integrated manufacturing success. One hundred and one survey participants rated the importance of obstacles believed to influence CIM success. A comparison of obstacle importance, as measured in this study, with the importance of various obstacles as measured in other studies, suggests that the importance of obstacles may be temporal in nature. The survey responses were used to develop an empirically-based taxonomy of CIM obstacles. The importance ratings were factor analysed and the result was four obstacle groups: commitment of resources, strategic concerns, organizational receptivity, and human resistance to change. The relationships between CIM obstacles and perceived CIM success were also explored using regression analysis. Although the regression model was only marginally significant, the pattern of results suggests that the perceived importance of commitment of resources is positively related to perceived CIM success, while the perceived importance of organizational receptivity is inversely related to perceived CIM success. Some possible explanations for these findings are presented.