Ž . J. Eng. Technol. Manage. 16 1999 83–101 Case study A model for an integrated manufacturing system implementation in China: a case study Henry C. Tseng a , W.H. Ip b , K.C. Ng b, ) a Kingtronics Industrial, Penthouse, Century Centre, 44-46 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, China b Department of Manufacturing Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniÕersity, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Abstract This paper describes a process which a company adopted to enhance her manufacturing system in a step-by-step manner. In order to increase the competitiveness of the company, the authors have identified a number of improvement strategies which were specific to the economic and political environment in China. The center of the strategies is a vision of an integrated manufacturing strategy. The detailed design and implementation of this vision is conducted through the proposed systematic manufacturing strategic analysis. The integration process encom- Ž . passes various elements such as Total Quality Management TQM , Manufacturing Resources Ž . Ž . Planning MRPII and Real-Time Monitoring System RTMS , it emphasises not only the use of appropriate modern technology but also the management of technology change. In this paper, a concept model is used to describe the integration process, the detailed implementation is also elaborated using a proposed implementation process model. By adopting the integrated manufac- turing system, and through continuing improvement, the productivity and hence the profitability of the company is increased. It is anticipated that the integrated approach to the design and implementation of manufacturing systems will be an important contribution towards the manufac- turing strategy in a labour intensive environment such as China. q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Integrated manufacturing; Manufacturing strategy; Total Quality Management; Real-Time Monitor- ing; Manufacturing Resources Planning ) Corresponding author. Tel.: q852-2766-51111; fax: q852-2764-3374; e-mail: mfjohhny@polyu.edu.hk 0923-4748r99r$ - see front matter q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Ž . PII: S0923-4748 98 00029-0