A framework for understanding flexibility of manufacturing systems

Gupta, Diwakar; Buzacott, John A.

doi:10.1016/0278-6125(89)90028-9

Cited by 150 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…On these bases, it is clear that flexibility is always relative to the goal strived for and to the environmental circumstances. Flexibility, therefore, is not a characteristic of a system itself, but a characteristic of the relationship between a system and its environment, i.e., its measurement and deployment is situation specific (Gupta and Buzacott 1989). Therefore, to assess the flexibility of a system, we need first to determine what the drivers are, i.e., the factors that determine the need for flexibility (Das andPatel 2002, Pujawan 2004).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production Flexibility in Extensive Beef Farming Systems

Astigarraga¹,

Ingrand²

2011

E&S

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ABSTRACT. The aim of this work is to assess the flexibility of production allowed by extensive production conditions faced with variations in the environment, i.e., market variations and climatic fluctuations, of Limousin beef systems. The study used a case-based methodology in which seven beef farms with less than 1 LU/ha were chosen. Data collection was based on three interviews using a semistructured questionnaire and on the analysis of productive and economic results over a 15-year period (1991-2005). The main evolution of these farms is related to a rise in work productivity associated with an increase in herd size. Herd increase was made possible by enlarging the area, the margin of intensification being limited in these regions. To take advantage of the enlarged land area, females were reared for fattening or for reproduction instead of selling them at weaning. The Limousin female provides a wide product mix because of its plasticity, as has been studied by several researchers. This mix flexibility is achieved by delaying product differentiation, a form of production flexibility that can reduce the risk of under-producing or overproducing varied product configurations. On the other hand, calves sold to the Italian market after weaning are generic products, associated with a flexible production process to overcome fluctuations in forage availability due to climatic variations. The introduction of maize silage for feeding acts as an alternative route, actual and potential, through the system to overcome unexpected forage shortage from natural grasslands as a result of droughts. The study shows that extensive farming systems have developed types of flexibility to match different factors of uncertainty from the environment. Finally, the issue of farm system performance is thus not so much a question of whether a farm is fit at a specific moment in time, but whether it transforms into a less or more sustainable orientation.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production Flexibility in Extensive Beef Farming Systems

Astigarraga¹,

Ingrand²

2011

E&S

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“…The term flexibility finds a considerable number of definitions and theoretical deliberations revolving around it (e.g., [15][16][17][18][19][20]). In our opinion, flexibility can be defined as the ability to adapt production in relation to changing markets [21].…”

Section: Theoretical Framework Of Production Processes Organizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical Foundations of Efficiently Organizing Production Processes: Using the Example of Combining Organizational Forms of Component Manufacture and Internal Transport

Schroeder

Nebl

Mainzinger

2014

Journal of Industrial Engineering

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This paper examines the problem of efficient production processes organization down to subprocesses levels. Subtasks of production within subprocesses necessitate a specific set of requirements for production organization. Through particular features and their respective characteristics, these requirements are further systemized and described as process types. The main manufacturing process "component manufacture" and its connected production support service "internal transport" have been chosen as examples to show relevant organizational principles and forms. From this baseline and together with a decision algorithm, selected organizational options and a combination thereof shall lead to theoretically optimized solutions which meet all predefined requirements. A multilevel organizational alignment model lays out interdependencies of combined process type-oriented organizational forms. Methods of comparative organizational profile analysis in support of reengineering approaches are systemized and further developed towards resulting organizational adaptations.

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“…The available literature clearly indicates towards the future research scope in this field. However, limited research on the flexibility indicates that it has remained ambiguous to a great extent (Sethi andSethi 1990, Gupta andBuzacott (1989). In particular, there is a lack of precise analytical models that are capable of generating clear relationships between the degree of flexibility in a system and the systems level of performance as rightly pointed by the Slack (1987), Ettlie (1988), and Benjaafar (1992).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%