Flexibility, trade-offs and learning in manufacturing system design. (1st January 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Slack, Nigel
• Is Part Of: International journal of manufacturing technology and management. Volume 1:Number 4/5(2000)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 348
• Publication Date: 2000-01-01
• Subjects: flexibility -- learning -- manufacturing systems -- process capability -- tacit knowledge -- trade-offs; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Automation -- Periodicals; Production management -- Periodicals; 670.427068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-2148

Abstract

Three independent case-based research projects are examined, using similar methodologies, so as to understand the relationships between the nature of each manufacturing system's redesign, their strategic context, the assessment of each system's flexibility, their managers' perceptions of the trade-offs involved in the design and the degree of organisational learning. A model is proposed which suggests an interplay between three related sets of activities. These are a "structuring" activity, a "suppositional" activity and an "assimilation" activity. Parallels are drawn between these studies and other work on learning and technological competence.