A System Dynamic Approach to Manage Changeability in Manufacturing Systems

This paper addresses the challenges in managing variety and volume in changeable manufacturing systems. A dynamic model is presented to better understand and analyse the dynamic of the strategic decisions concerning manufacturing and marketing plans in changeable systems facing heterogeneous customers. The model capture the dynamics of both platform technology to manage demand variety and scalability technology to manage demand volume. The approach will help changeable manufacturing managers to decide on the best structure as well as parameters settings for their system facing today's uncertain demand. These decisions include investment in required technology, marketing policies as well as various internal operation plans