Today’s customers expect speed, variety, and reliability - all at once. To deliver that, your operation needs more than efficiency; it needs flexibility. Increasing Operational Flexibility shows you how to build a manufacturing system that adapts quickly, runs lean, and stays in control, even when demand changes overnight.
 
This guide takes you through the practical building blocks of operational agility - Just in Time, Batch Size Reduction, Kanbans, and Changeover Reduction (SMED) - and shows how they link together to create a responsive, resilient factory. You’ll see how to move from “make to forecast” to “make to demand,” how to use visual Kanban systems to manage flow, and how to turn complex, time-consuming changeovers into quick, repeatable, ready-to-go routines.
 
From organising tools and materials to redefining team roles during fast changeovers, this guide covers both the technical and human sides of flexibility. Real-world examples and straightforward templates make it clear how to put the ideas into practice - whether you’re running a high-volume line or a short-batch process.
 
By the end, you’ll know how to connect lean scheduling, quick setups, and smart visual systems into one joined-up way of working - creating an operation that’s faster, more adaptable, and ready for anything.
 
Increasing Operational Flexibility isn’t about doing more with less; it’s about doing better with what you’ve got. A must-read for factory leaders, planners, and engineers who want to turn rigidity into responsiveness and make flexibility their competitive advantage.