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A review of manufacturing flexibility

Beach, R., Muhlemann, Alan P., Price, D.H.R., Paterson, Andrew H., Sharp, John A. (2000) A review of manufacturing flexibility. European Journal of Operational Research, 122 (1). pp. 41-57. ISSN 0377-2217. (doi:10.1016/S0377-2217(99)00062-4) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:16103)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0377-2217(99)00062-4

Abstract

In the field of operations management, manufacturing flexibility has been the subject of much academic enquiry. Moreover, the need for this fundamental characteristic has never been more urgent. However, a comprehensive understanding of the subject remains elusive. An extensive review of the literature is used to examine the issues surrounding the concept of manufacturing flexibility. Specifically: the use of manufacturing flexibility as a strategic objective, the relationship flexibility has with environmental uncertainty, the use of taxonomies as a vehicle for furthering understanding of the types of flexibility, the nature of flexibility, and its measurement. Through this process of synthesis, the paper attempts to establish the extent to which knowledge of manufacturing flexibility has now progressed. Suggestions for future research topics in flexibility are also presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/S0377-2217(99)00062-4
Uncontrolled keywords: manufacturing; flexibility; management; research; survey
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HA Statistics > HA33 Management Science
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Kent Business School (do not use)
Depositing User: P. Ogbuji
Date Deposited: 15 Apr 2009 16:48 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:54 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/16103 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Sharp, John A..

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