Reconfigurability Of Manufacturing Systems For Agility Implementation

Implementation agility in Manufacturing Systems (MS) is one of the most important objectives for MS considering the complexity of environment. Agility implementation implies new characteristics as well as new implications not considered by the previous MS concept. These are: the dynamic reconfigurability of MS structure (in the first place), pro-activity, the emergence (as inherent features of agility), and the need for integration of resources outside the original MS. These characteristics imply needs for specific organizational tools and frameworks. The issue is presented in a two-part paper first one presenting the requirements and principles of agility and MS reconfigurability – and the second part presenting two architectures for MS reconfigurability in support of MS agility as well as two applications of the proposed architectures.