The total pattern of decisions/policies that shape the long-term capabilities of an operation. The strategy identifies why to do what they do, how to satisfy customers, how to manage the operations, how to develop capabilities, and how to use the firm’s resources to gain a competitive advantage in one or several operational performance areas (cost, quality, flexibility, delivery, safety, sustainability, morale, etc.).
Synonymous: none
Included terms: manufacturing strategy; service strategy; Hoshin Kanri (Policy deployment)
Source: (Hill, 2019; APICS, 2011; Bryson, 2014)