How Does Flexible Manufacturing Fit?
Bob A. writes- The Big 3 auto makers are in trouble. Honda and Toyota and are eating up the market … Just recently, Ford and DC (Daimler-Chrysler) changed their manufacturing strategy from making a couple of different models in a single factory to expanding their product mix (a.k.a. Flexible Manufacturing) within a factory to reduce their overall costs. Currently, DC is producing the PT Cruiser in Mexico, with the Neon built in Belvedere, Ill. They admit this is a mistake and will be changing. Ford and DC feel ‘flexible manufacturing’ is a strategy they must and will employ to survive. GM has already begun the process of implementing ‘flexible manufacturing’ So, is the ‘focused factory’ a good strategy? I think the Manufacturing person employing this concept better know his customers and the market.
