Integrating manufacturing test strategy with manufacturing production strategy

The foundation of what is known as agile competition is beginning to unfold. Rather than offering the customer a plethora of different options from which to choose, the customer works with the producer to arrive at solutions to the customer´s specific problem. Information and services become a significant part of the product sold. Agile competition represents a significant departure from the lean manufacturing environments that exist today. The economics of production will no longer be defined in terms of being the low cost producer. What has emerged is on inescapable evolution to high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. An effective and efficient test strategy is critical to profitably meeting the responsiveness and delivery performance challenges of a dynamic agile, high-mix, low-volume electronics manufacturing environment. Test strategy objectives must align in on integrated way with the overall objectives established at the highest level of a manufacturing organization. In this regard, a manufacturing operations model is a competitive imperative. A manufacturing operations model will greatly assist management in gaining a better understanding of problems and serve as a focal point for systematic discussion of objectives and alternatives. Fundamental to the establishment of a sound manufacturing test strategy is the measurement of and understanding of the relevant dimensions of flexibility and complexity. Reductions in complexity coupled with increased flexibility (e.g., mix, volume) can offer competitive advantages in cost, quality, responsiveness and delivery performance for a high-mix low-volume electronics manufacturer. Various test strategy choices and the relevant issues pertaining to their use will be presented for the different types of manufacturing environments that con be encountered