Flexibility and productivity in complex production processes

Abstract

The drastical changes in market demands, and the rapid technological developments,has created a need for: u • more flexible production systems • more complex products with a larger degree of variation. There is a strong force towards the use of more and more mechanized and automatizedequipment, from single NC-machines to complete manufacturing systems. At the same time there is a need for flexibility towards changes of the products. These changes have to be made in a limited time, and without the need of large reinvestments in the production system. This means that there more often must be a discussion regarding flexibility versus productivity before the production system is designed. I will discuss u • methods for calculation of different flexibility levels • strategies for a more flexible view upon products and processes • examples and results from different areas within the Swedish industry.