Business process orientation in Greek SMEs: Analysis of manufacturing processes and their enterprise system implementations

Abstract

The use of best practice manufacturing processes by Greek SMEs is examined, along with the corresponding process implementations with packaged enterprise systems (ES). The study analyzes individual processes from an implementer's perspective, focuses on deficient process use cases, and explores the causes of such deficiencies. Production master data, and planning, scheduling, execution, costing, and Business Intelligence processes are analyzed on a sample of 15 Greek SMEs which have successful implementations of a single ERP system. Deficiencies are observed in production planning, scheduling and standard costing. They can be attributed to the lack of knowledge and experience, and to the business culture of the companies. A broad business process reengineering is also required before these processes can be implemented. The results suggest that, under low process and ES use maturity conditions, an analysis of individual processes is necessary before the evaluation of higher-level business process orientation and business process maturity indicators. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.