METHOD FOR MEASURING PRODUCTION COMPLEXITY

Many companies today struggle with fierce demands on efficiency, flexibility and sustainability connected to customization and the introduction of new sustainable products. This increases production complexity, which should be managed through a holistic approach in order to avoid sub-optimization, focus usage and support relevant changes in the production set-up. This paper presents a first step approaching such a framework, a method for measuring production complexity specifically on a station level in a line re-balancing scenario. A Complexity Index was developed in analogy with, and as a compliment to, Robustness Index (RI) a calculation method used at Volvo Cars. The RI involves parameters that are ranked by a multifunctional group during several days. Complexity Index should in comparison, be used by one person at a time evaluating four parameters: Product and variants, Method, Layout and Equipment and Organisation and Environment. The method should be validated empirically through in-depth studies at Volvo Cars Corporation