Evolvability and the intangibles

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at production and the installation of production lines, and question how to reduce investment for installation and how to organize the structure of such a line in order to use and reuse it for as many different or new types of products as possible.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at some basic technological interdependencies.

Findings

The paper finds that the know‐how, the long‐term capabilities and creativity make man a very important asset in terms of economical factory operation. Evolvable production systems may in the near future turn out to be the bridging link between what one might call “the cost‐driven operation reducing the workforce” and an answer to how factory operation could be sustainable for a society and be highly profitable at the same time.

Originality/value

Evolvable assembly systems are a technological task requiring profound theoretical research and solutions. The paper is of value in listing some requirements for evolvable systems.

Citation

Hanisch, C. and Munz, G. (2008), "Evolvability and the intangibles", Assembly Automation, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 194-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/01445150810889448