Hybrid manufacturing framework to improve SMMs flexibility

The aim of this work was to define a hybrid manufacturing structure for SMMs using Manual assembling line(s) system. The developed framework, which combines advantages of MTO and Make-to-Stock MTS manufacturing strategies supported by a flexible manual assembly lines setup. This work followed a case study research approach. In quest to achieve the defined objectives, data were extracted and hypotheses tested from Prakash and Chin (2014:15) paper - Case study two. Through this project a manufacturing setting combining MTO - MTS systems supported by a flexible manual assembly lines setup was developed. The hybrid manufacturing system development followed a hierarchical framework comprising three steps; namely, products classification, facility planning - design and hypothesis testing (DES). Therefore, to fulfill this study's purpose, the findings obtained are outlined in order to answer 3 research sub-interrogations.