Enhancing total agility level in the manufacturing of regenerative air dryer

This paper reports a research that was carried out to study the theory and practice of enhancing ‘total agility level’ (TAL) in organisational scenario. During this research, a literature survey was carried out to identify the missing links of the ‘agile manufacturing’ (AM) researches, which are to be networked for enhancing the TAL of contemporary organisations. Subsequently, a model named as ‘model for enhancing total agility level’ (METAL) was designed to network these identified missing links. The practicality of METAL was examined in the case of producing regenerative air dryer. This examination revealed that METAL is a practically compatible model in enabling the contemporary organisations to identify and strengthen weak AM criteria and subsequently to enhance the TAL value. Future researches shall be carried out to further strengthen the practical compatibility of METAL by conducting many more case studies in different kinds of organisations.

[1]  S. Vinodh,et al.  Agility index measurement using multi-grade fuzzy approach integrated in a 20 criteria agile model , 2010 .

[2]  Jan Olhager,et al.  Lean and agile manufacturing: external and internal drivers and performance outcomes , 2009 .

[3]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Agile product development through CAD and rapid prototyping technologies: an examination in a traditional pump-manufacturing company , 2010 .

[4]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Identification of arenas unconquered by agile manufacturing researches and practices through a literature survey , 2011 .

[5]  Z. Zhang,et al.  A methodology for achieving agility in manufacturing organisations , 2000 .

[6]  L. P. Khoo,et al.  A Tabu-Enhanced Genetic Algorithm Approach to Agile Manufacturing , 2002 .

[7]  S. Vinodh,et al.  Computer‐aided design and engineering as enablers of agile manufacturing: A case study in an Indian manufacturing organization , 2011 .

[8]  Xiande Zhao,et al.  Assessing quality management in China with MBNQA criteria , 2004 .

[9]  Mark M. Meerschaert,et al.  Mathematical Modeling , 2014, Encyclopedia of Social Network Analysis and Mining.

[10]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Agility through rapid prototyping technology in a manufacturing environment using a 3D printer , 2009 .

[11]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Enhancing total agility level through assessment and product mapping: A case study in the manufacturing of refrigeration air dryer , 2012 .

[12]  Artur Swierczek,et al.  The agile capabilities of Polish companies in the supply chain: An empirical study , 2009 .

[13]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Agility assessment through qualification and quantification tools: a case study in an Indian pump manufacturing company , 2007 .

[14]  Nick Bennett,et al.  Reverse engineering and rapid tooling as enablers of agile manufacturing , 2006 .

[15]  Clyde W. Holsapple,et al.  A unified model of supply chain agility : the work-design perspective , 2008 .

[16]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Thirty criteria-based assessment of agility in a pneumatic enabling products manufacturing company , 2012 .

[17]  Barbara B. Flynn,et al.  Relevance of Baldrige constructs in an international context: A study of national culture , 2006 .