Workforce flexibility in automated manufacturing

Though popular, the concept of flexibility is difficult to pin down precisely. Several attempts have been made at identifying the multiple dimensions of flexibility in the overall manufacturing system. In parallel, there has been a plethora of articles boasting human resources as the key element in the success of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT). This paper: 1) examines the flexibility measurement issues; 2) identifies the facets of workforce flexibility in an AMT context; and 3) presents a matrix that highlights flexibility trade-offs and lends itself to the formulation of propositions targeting training investments.