Technologie-Roadmapping zur Planung und Steuerung der betrieblichen Forschung und Entwicklung

Abstract

Agile manufacturing involves the implementation of popular approaches and techniques, such as lean and flexible manufacturing, in a concerted way, thus bringing about enormous improvement in products, responsiveness to customers, innovation, and flexibility. This chapter provides insight into the changing role of manufacturing, with emphasis on the latest paradigm, “agile manufacturing.” The chapter also discusses the nature of agility and its building blocks. Agile manufacturing requires a fundamental change in management philosophy. The aim is to create a manufacturing firm that can produce in volume and simultaneously produce variety for market niches. Agile companies seek to combine the advantages of time compression with techniques to reduce the cost of variety to offer instant delivery of small quantities of goods that meet individual specifications. Therefore, to become agile, a firm must redesign its processes and products to meet the expectations of customers for both customization and responsiveness. Agility gives companies a commanding competitive edge in the marketplace.