Concurrent Manufacturing

Definition and Overview of Concurrent Manufacturing

• Concurrent manufacturing is a method of producing goods where different stages of production are done in parallel, rather than in a linear sequence.
• At the core of concurrent manufacturing is simultaneous execution of product design, process planning and production activities.
• The primary objective of concurrent manufacturing is to reduce time to market, improve product quality and achieve greater efficiency to maintain a competitive advantage.

Key Features of Concurrent Manufacturing

• One of the crucial aspects of concurrent manufacturing is cross-functional teams consisting of employees from different departments such as design, manufacturing, and quality control.
• This process encourages interaction and communication between different departments from the initial stages of product development.
• Concurrent manufacturing also promotes feedback loops, which means information shared on one task can be reused to improve all related tasks.
• It puts emphasis on dismantling departmental ‘silos’ to encourage broad thinking and collaboration.

Advantages of Concurrent Manufacturing

• Concurrent manufacturing often results in reduced time to market, by eliminating wait times for intermediate results in a sequential process.
• It fosters better inter-departmental collaboration increasing the chances of product success.
• By catching design flaws early in the process, it helps in reducing production costs as changes made in the planning or design phase are less expensive than during or post production.
• It promotes innovation and creativity as the collaborative aspects provide a framework for brainstorming and problem solving.

Disadvantages of Concurrent Manufacturing

• Applying concurrent manufacturing can be a major organisational shift and may be resisted by employees used to working in a more linear, compartmentalised manner.
• It requires significant coordination and management to ensure that tasks are executed simultaneously but also in a controlled and synchronised way.
• Early decisions can snowball, meaning a mistake or oversight in the early stages can have major implications later on.

Applications of Concurrent Manufacturing

• In the automotive industry, concurrent manufacturing is often used to design, test, and manufacture new models in less time.
• The electronics industry uses this approach to respond swiftly to fast-changing technology and consumer demands.
• Aerospace companies apply concurrent manufacturing in designing and building complex systems like aircraft and spacecraft to ensure safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• It’s also used in the construction industry to plan, design, and build projects more efficiently, and to respond swiftly to shifts in demand.