An operational perspective of the relationships between the headquarters and the maquiladoras

摘要

This paper explored the role of concurrent engineering (CE) and design for manufacturability and assembly (DFM/DFA) within the context of headquarters-maquiladora relationships. The objective of this paper was to determine which operational model was prevalent and describe the operational relationships between a headquarters and their maquiladoras. The maquiladora industry is a manufacturing model that utilises the Mexican workforce and foreign investment and technology on the border region between the USA and Mexico. This paper conducted an empirical investigation by distributing a survey instrument among maquiladora plants in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. The reliability and validity tests, item correlation matrix, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and structural equation modelling for design and manufacturing data were conducted. Appropriate conclusions and an assessment based on the results and 11 field interviews conducted with maquiladora managers were provided. The analyses indicated inconsistent results for design questions. There seemed to be a lack of understanding as to the role and function of design in the maquiladoras. It did not appear that maquiladoras were directly or heavily involved in the initial stages of design. Maquiladoras appeared, however, to be heavily involved in what is actually a re-design at the maquiladoras. The analyses indicated consistent and strong results for the important role that manufacturing played in the maquiladoras. Finally, future research directions were provided.