AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY OF FLEXIBILITY IN MANUFACTURING

DESPITE THE POPULARITY OF FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS, MANAGERS SUFFER FROM INADEQUATE FRAMEWORKS TO HELP INCORPORATE FLEXIBILITY into their strategic planning. Through a study of thirty-one plants in the printed circuit board industry the authors process toward such a framework, define types of flexibility, and examine the relationships among them. Their findings have implications for technology, production management, human resource management, supplier relationships, and product development.