Group Technology Based Production System — an Important Strategy for Developing Nations

Abstract

In the immediate future, Group Technology (GT) based production system should form an important strategy for developing countries like India presently characterised by poor performance and declining profitability of a number of public sector enterprises. If workers as well as managers have no sense of belonging to a social unit and adopt an attitude of confrontation with each other and the capacity utilisation of these enterprises is unsatisfactory, these are to be seen in the light of their working in systems which are most inappropriate and inefficient. Group Technology represents a major breakthrough in the economic management through a more efficient utilisation of the country's available capacity, resources, capital, services and production facilities. The hope to achieve a higher growth rate lies in this vital system of production particularly for the developing nations which cannot afford the capital intensive machining centres. The paper gives a brief account of Group Technology applications in India and highlights the potential beenfits of its introduction in a multiproduct engineering industry.