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Title: Mass Customization and Its Curricular Implications for Four-Year Degree Programs in Manufacturing Technologies

Author
item BALAMURALIKRISHNA, RADHA - NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV
item Rosentrater, Kurt

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2006
Publication Date: 10/20/2006
Citation: Balamuralikrishna, R., Rosentrater, K.A. 2006. Mass Customization and Its Curricular Implications for Four-Year Degree Programs in Manufacturing Technologies. Symposium Proceedings from 2006 IJME/Intertech Conference, Union, NJ, October 19-21, 2006.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mass customization is fast emerging as a popular business strategy which aims to also cater to individual expressed needs of end users at prices closely comparable to mass produced items. Companies are able to switch to this mode of operation by primarily making their own operations demand-driven, flexible systems and asking their suppliers to do the same. Customers by and large are delighted to be part of this new kind of supply chain and are willing to invest time to specify what exactly they want provided businesses are willing to keep their end of the bargain in terms of high quality, timeliness and prompt service. The probability of manufacturing technology graduates encountering demand-driven manufacturing systems that operate on a mass customization paradigm is very high per current indicators. This paper concludes with a synopsis of certain imperatives for inclusion in a detailed examination of the curricula in four year degree programs. Specifically, we suggest that students should be prepared to perform value stream analysis, work towards developing a firm’s core competency, and be able to analyze and improve supply chain operations.