Agile Manufacturing: a strategy for the 21st century

Manufacturing industry in the United States may well be on the verge of a major paradigm shift. This shift is likely to take US industry away from mass production, way beyond lean production, into a world of Agile Manufacturing. Agile Manufacturing, however, is a relatively new term, and one which is not fully understood in the industrial and academic worlds, and the conceptual aspects are still being defined. However, one thing is certain-Agile Manufacturing represents a significant attempt on the part of US industry to respond to the threat posed by the newly industrialised nations around the Pacific Rim. The aim is not to close the competitive gap that has been allowed to develop, but to outperform overseas competition by achieving quantum leaps forward in performance and capabilities. Agile Manufacturing is not about small scale continuous improvements. US manufacturing industry is seeking to regain the preeminence that it once enjoyed prior to the emergence of Japan as a major industrial nation. European manufacturing companies need to respond, both to the threat from the so-called Asian Tigers, but also to this major movement to revitalise US manufacturing industry. Agility offers great potential for business growth. However, firms cannot afford to wait around to see if Agility takes off or wait to learn from others´ mistakes. Rather, they should actively and positively engage in Agile Manufacturing and shape the future instead of watching