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Identifying and Measuring Required-Actual Manufacturing Flexibility Gaps
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2008-05-09
Author(s)
Boyle, Todd A.
Abstract
This research develops a framework that enables managers to identify and narrow the gap between required and actual levels of manufacturing flexibility. To illustrate its applicability, the framework is presented to managers (e.g., production manager, development manager, marketing manager, supply chain manager, financial officer, business development manager, CEO) of a leading European manufacturer of food processing and chemical processing ma-chinery in order to help identify required and actual levels of flexibility, where gaps exists between the two, and develop a set of measurements to help determine when such gaps are closed. Based on the data from the case, a variety of measurements are identified to help en-sure that changes made are actually narrowing the gap between required and actual flexibil-ity. Further analysis shows that the framework is effective in identifying flexibility deficien-cies, as well as preventing an over or under investment in manufacturing flexibility. This study provides an easy to use sequence of steps to help identify actual and required levels of flexibility and what dimensions need to be addressed to narrow this gap. The study considers both over and under investments of flexibility and in doing so highlights to managers that more flexibility is not always desired.
Language
English
Keywords
Manufacturing flexibility
measurement of flexibility
visual tool
case study
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Book title
19th Annual Conference of the Production and Operations Management Society
Event Title
19th Annual Conference of the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)
Event Location
La Jolla, California, USA
Event Date
09.-12.05.2008
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
43799