Management of flexible manufacturing: An international comparison

The purpose of this paper is (1) to examine the current status of flexible manufacturing in the United States and Sweden, (2) to survey the historical reasons for existing differences, and (3) to explore the impact of flexibility on various aspects of performance, particularly international competitiveness. The most recent data on the use of certain hardware associated with flexibility, such as numerically controlled machine tools, industrial robots, and flexible manufacturing systems, are presented for several industrial countries. An analysis is made of organizational structure and management practices (‘software’) relating to flexibility in manufacturing in the United States and Sweden. This analysis is based on firm interviews, supplemented with recent findings in the literature. The historical analysis traces the evolution of manufacturing technology over the last century. The discussion of the impact of flexibility on economic performance is based upon recent research findings.