Agile manufacturing and mass customization: concepts, similarities and differences

Abstract

This paper deals with Agile Manufacturing (AM) and Mass Customization (MC), two of the most important and recent strategic manufacturing management paradigms (SMaMaP). Based on a complete review it was identified and structured the drivers, the principles, the enablers and the strategic production goals regarding AM and MC. From this structure it was established the main similarities and differences regarding AM and MC once there is a confusion on literature about these paradigms. This paper shows that AM and MC are not the better paradigms for all management environments. The differences between AM and MC can be classified in three categories: the target market of each paradigm; the restricted principles and enablers of each paradigm; and the output to be obtained with these paradigms. This paper accomplishes the following contributions: brings a better comprehension and divulgation relating AM and MC (on Brazilian manufacturing management literature, there are not a lot of work dealing with AM and MC); deals with AM and MC similarities and differences (it was not found on literature a paper with such matter); helps on the AM and MC choice and putting into practice on manufacturing environments.