Flexibility in manufacturing systems:: A relational and a dynamic approach

In this paper, we propose that flexibility in a manufacturing system is not independent of the environment with which it interacts. Furthermore, we propose that flexibility is a multidimensional concept relating the degree, effort and time of adaptation. In order to arrive at this approach, a dynamic perspective is adopted in which the flexibility dimensions are related. A number of examples are presented to point out some problems where this approach may be used. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.