Agility creates business advantage. Manufacturers able to adjust to changing customer requirements, shifting supply chain risks, and competitive incursions can gain ground in today's hyper-competitive marketplace.

As part of Managing Automation's monthly User Resources feature, we offer readers a conveniently organized set of resources aimed at illuminating the path toward achieving a given business discipline. This month, the focus is on agility. Check out the resources below for greater insight on what it takes to achieve agility and what kinds of technology can help.

Research Reports & Studies

"Beyond Visibility: Driving Supply Chain Responsiveness," by Aberdeen Group [paid content]

Aberdeen plumbed the practices of best-in-class companies and found that those marked by agility had a strong command of supply chain visibility. Read more in this report.

"The Enterprise of the Future," an IBM Global CEO Survey

In this IBM survey, more than 1,000 CEOs weigh in on the challenges and opportunities presented by a fast-moving, globally integrated, customer-driven marketplace. Not all business leaders feel that they can keep pace with the changes that confront them.

"Developing World Class Manufacturing Agility: How to Reduce Total Cycle Times in Your Company," by Rockford Consulting

This article from the manufacturing practitioners at Rockford Consulting focuses on the tenets of operational excellence and the drive to deliver new products to market faster. Learn some best practices in the quest for agility.

"Building a Nimble Organization: A McKinsey Global Survey" [free registration required]