1990´s manufacturing systems

The paper discusses how manufacturing systems may look and work in the 1990s, considering rapid growth in technology and the increasing pressure arising from global competition. Briefly it follows the development of systems and organisations from before the industrial revolution to the 1980s and looks forward to the necessary requirements of a platform for the year 2000. The paper examines the prominent control technologies and techniques, from AGVs and computer systems to JIT, OPT and TQM. The examination continues into the problems, and thus the opportunities, in the present factories and plants. An evaluation of potential solutions in terms of both technology and techniques is undertaken, and the crucial issues involved in making what in some cases is a fundamental change are identified. In establishing potential solutions, it is shown how and where techniques can be applied. The determination of the system components required, along with their necessary characteristics to enable manufacturing systems to be fast, flexible and responsive, are discussed