Production System Development

Abstract

The content of this chapter is based on a number of studies carried out in manufacturing companies during the late 1990s. During these studies the focus was on assembly systems; however the results are applicable to the superior production system as well. The chapter provides ideas on production system development in practice. By way of introduction a basis for production system development is described – causes and contexts for development. After that the actual activities during development and the effects on the studied companies after they developed the production systems are described. An important part of system development is evaluation of existing and conceptual production systems. How the companies evaluated production systems is therefore also presented. Thereafter, how company culture plays an important role during production system development is described. A description of production system development carried out in Uddevalla, when Volvo restructured its assembly plants, concludes the chapter.