The impact of implementation of a modular platform strategy in automobile manufacturing networks

This paper explores the impact of the implementation of modular platforms, to replace the standard platforms used to date, on the strategic outputs of automobile manufacturing networks. Analysis of the production network of manufacturers in Europe shows that the use of modular architecture improves the coordination of manufacturing networks by increasing manufacturing mobility and thriftiness ability. The changes resulting from this new modular strategy also allow for reorganisation of manufacturing capacity and the partial elimination of current overcapacity. From the point of view of production systems, the adaptation of processes and facilities in manufacturing plants to this new architecture should aim to increase flexibility by integrating production around a single platform, allowing for different dimensions and a large number of models in a single plant.

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