Understanding the barriers in implementing Leagile manufacturing system

Abstract

The concept of lean manufacturing and agile manufacturing is not new nowadays, but the combination of the two i.e., lean as well as agile has been emerging as a new concept. Both lean and agile concepts are separated by a strategic point called de-coupling point, upstream of which there is a level schedule and at the same time, downstream, the system is agile so as to met volatile needs of customers. There are many advantages of implementing leagile manufacturing system like reduced cost, reduced lead time, improved quality, better customer satisfaction, increased sales and profitability, etc. So it is necessary to understand the barriers in implementing leagile system and also to what extent. Researchers have used different techniques like graph theory, technique of order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), analytic network process (ANP), interpretive structural modelling (ISM), etc. In this paper ISM technique is used to understand the barriers in implementation of leagile manufacturing system. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to rank these barriers. ISM approach has been used for converging some key barriers and managerial implications. Also, driving and dependent power of these barriers have been found out by using MICMAC analysis.