IngentaConnect Modular production systems: a new manufacturing paradigm

Authors: ROGERS G.G.¹; BOTTACI L.²

Source: Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Volume 8, Number 2, 1997 , pp. 147-156(10)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

It is well recognized that manufacturers of consumer goods throughout the world are facing major new demands, including shorter product life-cycles and increasing competition. In response, companies are restructuring and moving away from traditional process-centred work practices in favour of concurrent engineering methods. In particular, design for manufacture has gained widespread recognition as a means of reducing production costs and lead times. However, optimal design for manufacture is difficult to achieve using current-day work organization and business structures. An underlying problem is the lack of a scientific framework for production. To address this need, this paper proposes a radical and far-reaching new manufacturing paradigm based upon on building production systems from standardized modular machines. The manufacturing concept, termed modular production systems (MPS), is aimed specifically at `hard' low- to medium-technology consumer products, as typified by goods such as children's toys and kitchen appliances. The rationale for MPS as a means of enabling concurrent product and production system design is put forward, and the long-term implications and work required to establish the concept are discussed.

Keywords: New manufacturing paradigm; modular manufacturing virtual manufacturing

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box 1987, Perth 6102, Western Australia 2: Department of Computer Science, University of Hull, Hull HU67RX, UK

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