Reconfigurable manufacturing systems: Literature review and research trend

The current manufacturing environment aims at getting an increasing variety of customised, high-quality products in flexible batches. The dynamic market demand, the short product lifecycle and the flexibility need mark the transition from the traditional manufacturing systems to the so-called Next Generation Manufacturing Systems (NGMSs). Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) are within NGMSs and seem to match to these current market trends. RMSs allow rapid change in structure, hardware and software configuration to adjust, promptly, their production capacity and functionality. This paper presents a structured and updated systematic review of the literature about RMSs, highlighting the application areas as well as the key methodologies and tools. The review further provides a schematic of RMS research, identifying five emerging and promising research streams ranging from conceptual models to empirical applications. Compared to previous reviews, focusing on specific aspects of the RMS design and management, this study covers multiple areas and topics and it links reconfigurable manufacturing to the upcoming Industry 4.0 fourth industrial revolution. Finally, important issues and new trends in the literature are outlined to stimulate researchers and practitioners in developing studies in this field strongly linked to the Industry 4.0 environment.