FORLOG

BAVARIAN RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR SUPRA-ADAPTIVE LOGISTIC SYSTEMS

FlexLog

Field of work:

Objectives The subproject FlexLog stands for fundamental research on the topics flexibility and adaptivity within automotive value chain networks. The literature provides diverse approaches to define flexibility and adaptivity, but a generally accepted definition is still missing. In the scope of this project several questions have therefore to be dealt with: • What is flexibility (within supra-adaptivity)? • What causes the demand for flexibility? • What are the designing dimensions of flexibility? • Coordination of flexibility and management process? • Optimal degree of flexibility? • Assessment and cost-benefit ratio? Procedure The aim of FlexLog is the systematisation of the notion “flexibility”, the development of a management process and an assessment by means of cost-benefit aspects. Within the scope of the systematisation, the different approaches in the literature will be merged. This will provide support for the integration of flexibility into the topic of supra-adaptivity. A special focus will be the research on reasons of the demand for flexibility. In order to bridge the gap between practice and science, a management process has to be designed and the opportunities of coordinating flexibility within value chains have to be examined accurately. After a close calibration of this research with practical experiences of the industry partners, a general enhancement of value chain network architecture will be performed. In addition, the optimal degree of flexibility has to be identified. It is mainly determined by the consideration of cost-benefit aspects. Only their assessment can enable the determination of the optimal and thereby efficient degree of flexibility within the whole network. Results With the work of FlexLog a generally accepted definition of flexibility should be given, which is clearly differentiated from related terminologies like changeability and mutability. In this context also design dimensions should be examined and systematically distinguished. Starting with the named results an assessment by means of cost-benefit aspects will be performed to determine the optimal degree of flexibility. All results are supporting the flexibility management process that results from a verified framework of hypotheses. Bundled into flexible network architecture, the results of this project will connect the optimal flexibility of all involved partners and enable the coordination of the flexibility management process.