// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Agile Manufacturing
A production approach that allows factories to quickly adapt to changes in customer demand and market conditions. It emphasizes flexibility, speed, and responsiveness to produce a variety of products efficiently.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Agile Manufacturing is a production paradigm focused on rapid adaptation to market fluctuations and customer demands, leveraging flexible processes, modular designs, and reconfigurable systems to achieve quick response times and efficient production of diverse products.
BACKGROUND
Lean manufacturing is a management system built on three principles: produce only what is needed, when it is needed; correct abnormalities as soon as they occur; and empower workers to improve the process themselves.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Flexible manufacturing
- Responsive production
- Adaptive manufacturing
- Dynamic production
USAGE NOTE
Companies use agile manufacturing to thrive in volatile markets by quickly retooling production lines.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Agile Manufacturing.
A global leader in industrial automation and digitalization. Their Digital Enterprise Suite provides end-to-end software and hardware, including digital twin technology, that enables manufacturers to create flexible, reconfigurable, and highly responsive production environments.
Develops industrial automation and information solutions. Their 'Connected Enterprise' concept integrates plant-floor control with enterprise-level information systems, enabling real-time data analysis and decision-making for agile production adjustments.
A technology company specializing in robotics, power, and automation. ABB develops flexible robotic cells, collaborative robots (cobots), and modular automation solutions that allow for rapid product changeovers and customization on the factory floor.
Provides virtual universe software for sustainable innovation. Their 3DEXPERIENCE platform and DELMIA applications enable manufacturers to model, simulate, and optimize entire production processes virtually before implementation, drastically increasing agility.
A software company that provides a technology platform and solutions to help companies design, manufacture, and operate products. Their ThingWorx (IoT) and Vuforia (AR) platforms create a digital thread, connecting physical assets to digital models for flexible operations.
Offers 'Software-Defined Microfactories' that combine intelligent software, adaptive robotics, and machine learning. Their approach enables on-demand automation for electronics assembly and inspection, allowing for rapid scaling and product line changes.
A leading manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots). Their lightweight, flexible cobots are designed to work alongside humans and can be easily reprogrammed and redeployed for different tasks, making them a key enabler for agile manufacturing.
A German manufacturer of industrial robots and solutions for factory automation. KUKA develops modular robotic systems, mobile platforms, and intelligent software that allow for highly flexible and adaptable production lines.