RATHER THAN VIEWING MANUFACTURING AS A NECESSARY EVIL, IT IS PREFERRED THAT MANUFACTURING BE INTEGRATED INTO CORPORATE STRATEGY. EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING UTILIZES MULTIFUNCTIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. SUCH ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT FACILITATES THE PLANNING PROCESS, ENHANCES UNIFORMITY OF EXECUTION, AND CULTIVATES EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP OF RESULTING STRATEGIES. SOUND DIRECTION EVOLVES FROM A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS. THIS KNOWLEDGE SPAWNS THE CREATION OF ENDURING STRATEGIES DESIGNED FOR THE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION.