Reconfigurable Manufacturing Development: Insights on Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Challenges

The paper provides empirical insight on how changeable and reconfigurable manufacturing system concepts can be developed to meet requirements in manufacturing companies, as well as the related organizational and technical challenges. The findings reveal that there are still strong barriers towards the wider implementation of reconfigurability and that a paradigm shift in industry is required, e.g., in terms of managing stepwise investments, organizational culture and mindset, approaches to production development, organizational structures, and knowledge on changeability and reconfigurability.