A process for managing manufacturing flexibility

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a procedure to enable organizations to establish a competitive capability to manufacture flexibly.Design/methodology/approach: A survey of manufacturing businesses and two case studies in separate plants of an international manufacturing company led to the design of a process to improve manufacturing flexibility. The proposed process was subsequently tested and refined in workshops and interviews in additional collaborating companies.Findings: Insight gained from the combination of case study and survey research has identified key steps in a process to improve manufacturing flexibility, which have not been emphasised previously. In addition a framework is proposed which matches operational capabilities with desired dimensions of flexibility; mix and/or volume.Research limitations/implications: Further trials of the proposed process in a range of manufacturing operations are required to establish its robustness and generic value.Originality/value: A new conceptual framework has been developed to improve manufacturing flexibility. The results of an initial trial of this framework are reported.