Agile Manufacturing is an operational strategy focused on inducing velocity and flexibility in a make-to-order or configure-to-order production process with minimal changeover time and interruptions. Agile Manufacturing products compete directly with standard products, providing a customer with configurable opportunity to specialize a product. It differs with Lean Manufacturing in the sense that lean manufacturing is oriented toward a repetitive manufacturing environment with order characteristics of high-volume/low-mix, and Agile Manufacturing applies to low-volume/high mix.
Agile Manufacturing is oriented toward low-volume/high mix, adding velocity and flexibility in the production process. It applies to environments where customized, configurable, or specialized orders, offer a competitive advantage.
Agile Manufacturing is oriented toward low-volume/high mix, adding velocity and flexibility in the production process. It applies to environments where customized, configurable, or specialized orders, offer a competitive advantage.
Agile Manufacturing requires an agile supply chain to function optimally. Supply chain agility is the extent of network capability that the organization possesses. Key to the success of an agile supply chain is the speed and flexibility with which these activities can be accomplished and the realization that customer needs and customer satisfaction are the very reasons for the network.
Customer satisfaction is paramount. Achieving this capability requires all physical and logical events within the supply chain to be enacted swiftly, accurately, and effectively. The faster parts, information, and decisions flow through an organization, the faster it can respond to customer needs.
The benefits generally are specialization, customization, flexibility, lower costs, higher quality, lower inventory, and shorter lead times. The characteristics of Agile Manufacturing are:
Customer satisfaction is paramount. Achieving this capability requires all physical and logical events within the supply chain to be enacted swiftly, accurately, and effectively. The faster parts, information, and decisions flow through an organization, the faster it can respond to customer needs.
The benefits generally are specialization, customization, flexibility, lower costs, higher quality, lower inventory, and shorter lead times. The characteristics of Agile Manufacturing are:
a) Short time-to-market
b) Fast new product development
c) Modular design
d) Modular assembly
e) Short/fast order processing
f) Configure to order
g) Make-to-Order
h) Low volumes
i) Low quantities
j) High product mix
k) Configurable components
l) Fast supplier deliveries
m) Short lead times
n) Short cycle times
o) Highly flexible and responsive processes
p) Highly flexible machines and equipment
q) Deployment of Group Technology principles
r) Use of Solids Modeling
s) Use of advanced CAD/CAM
t) Quick changeover
u) Collocated machines, equipment, tools and people
v) Compressed space
w) Multi-skilled employees
x) Empowered employees
y) High first-pass yields with major reductions in defects
