Abstract

MUKALAY, T.A.. Hybrid manufacturing framework to improve small to medium-sized manufacturers' flexibility to market turbulence in a multi-product environment: case study of a manual assembly line. S. Afr. J. Ind. Eng. [online]. 2020, vol.31, n.1, pp.144-156. ISSN 2224-7890.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7166/31-1-2184.

Market flexibility can be described as the ability to react competently to customers' fluctuating demands. This ability has become critical to the survival of small to medium-sized enterprises. This study aimed at improving small to medium-sized manufacturers' flexibility. The framework proposed in this paper has a mixed make-to-order and make-to-stock strategy, supported by a manual assembly line setup based on workers' movements at its core. The hybrid system designed through this study allows small to medium-sized manufacturers to improve their responsiveness to the current dynamically changing market environment, and to stay competitive by providing them with the tools for fast customer response and financial expansion.

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