This document discusses agile manufacturing systems from an automotive industry perspective. It presents two decision models - a spreadsheet model and decision tree model - to study whether to invest in a dedicated, agile, or flexible manufacturing system for engine and transmission parts. The models provide initial insights into assessing the business case for investing in agile manufacturing. Agile systems seem to enable fast and cost-effective responses to new product introductions and unpredictable demand. However, more research is needed to fully address the business case for agility across multiple manufacturing sites. The document also discusses key enablers of agile manufacturing like virtual enterprise tools and concurrent engineering.

1. Subjective Assignment II
of
MOOC ON ACADEMIC WRITING
(UGC)
ACADEMIC WRITING
Submitted by
SIDDAVATAM NARENDRA REDDY
(Application No: f87a6247eafe11e99536638acc6b5beb)
IMS Noida

2. ABSTRACT
In the automotive industry, it is thought that agile manufacturing systems will permit fast cost-
effective responses to unpredictable and ever-changing product demand, and support rapid product
launches for previously unplanned products tailored to meet changing customer desires. I will discuss
two simple decision models that provide initial insights and industry perspective into the business
case for investment in agile manufacturing systems. The models are applied to study the hypothetical
decision of whether to invest in a dedicated, agile, or flexible manufacturing system for engine and
transmission parts machining. These decision models are a first step toward developing practical
business case tools that help industry to assess the value of agile manufacturing systems.

3. INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS AGILE MANUFACTURING?
 AGILE MANUFACTURING IS A TERM APPLIED TO AN ORGANIZATION
THAT HAS CREATED THE PROCESSES, TOOLS, AND TRAINING TO
ENABLE IT TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO CUSTOMER NEEDS AND MARKET
CHANGES WHILE STILL CONTROLLING COSTS AND QUALITY.
 AGILE MANUFACTURING IS A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING WHICH
COMBINES ORGANIZATION,PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY INTO AN
INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED WHOLE.

4. 1.SPREADSHEET MODEL
 Using the identified data and relationships as in a spreadsheet based model is constructed to
evaluate cumulative net present value (NPV) of profits for system purchase decisions made under
high uncertainty of product volumes, system availability, and timing of new product introductions.
The data values used are representative of the magnitudes of costs associated with the decisions
made but are for illustrative purposes only.
 Given the demand for each month for each product model, the spreadsheet evaluates the net profit
each month for each system type as there venue from product models made and sold during the
month less system dependent operating costs, labor costs, tax, depreciation, and changeover costs.

6. 2.DECISION TREE MODEL
 A simple decision tree model and Monte Carlo simulation analysis are used to study the decision
to buy a production system given the uncertain costs and the future opportunity to introduce a
previously unplanned product model.The decision tree illustrates that once a system type is
chosen, the system choice can be evaluated relative to the new opportunity.

8. KEY ENABLERS:
(1)Virtual enterprise formation tools/metrics:
Virtual enterprise facilitates the reconfiguration of the organization in order to respond
quickly to changing market needs. A single organization is often not able to develop su•fficient
internal capabilities to respond effectively within a short period of time. In a virtual enterprise, one
organizational entity may take on the responsibility for design, while another performs
manufacturing.
(2)Concurrent Engineering:
The integration and coordination of partner-organizations’ business processes and practices
can be viewed as a natural extension of concurrent engineering method. Here in concurrent
engineering quality, marketing and manufacturing, contribute strongly to new product design and
specifications to assure good warranty levels,easy serviceability and testability of the product.

9. RESULT & CONCLUSION:
 In this seminar, I have discussed agile manufacturing systems from an automotive industry
perspective. A descriptive influence diagram, spreadsheet model and a decision tree model are
studied to gain understanding about the value of system agility.
 From the limited study presented here, agile systems seem to meet the promise of rapid and cost-
effective response to new (unplanned) product model introductions and dynamic capacity
allocation to meet unpredictable demand.
 The two decision models developed are simple, capture the important features of economic
decisions about manufacturing systems, and facilitate discussion with automotive industry
engineers about agile and FMSs. However, there is a significant opportunity to extend research to
more fully address the business case for agility. The preliminary analysis described here is
localized to system selection for one manufacturing site.

10. Reference:
 Agile manufacturing enablers and an implementation frame work – may-1998-by
Angappa Gunasekaran
 Agile manufacturing systems in automotive industries- 2012-by Debra A. Elkinsa, Ningjian
Huanga, Jeffrey M. Aldenb.
 Analysis of Agile manufacturing enablers: A case study-2018-by Pavan kumar potdar.
 Adressing the Agile manufacturing impediments using interpretive structure modelling. 2017 by
Srikanta routroy.

11. FEED BACK ABOUT THE COURSE
 It is an extremely beneficial and important course for academicians like us since
we are required to write research papers, articles and case studies for professional
enhancement. Hence, it is important to have good academic writing skills
 The entire course content is well planned and designed which enables step by step
learning. Plagiarism and Journal and Author Metrics were the two modules I liked
the most.
 I am definitely going to take suggestions from the current ‘Academic Writing
Course’ that I’m attending. I sincerely hope to continuously strive to excel as a
professional writer.
 I thank the coordinators of this course to have spent their time and efforts to
compile these modules for the benefit of the entire professional community

12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 I am thankful to UGC - MOOC Academic Writing course for inspiring me do this
work.
 Also I thank DR. AJAY SEMALTY for teaching us clearly the importance of the
course and how to use the knowledge gained through this course.
 Lastly I thank my college management for including this course in our academics

13. THANK YOU