Exploring the Requirements and Challenges in Production Logistics for Different Sectors of the Manufacturing Industry

The growing demand for individualized products, shorter product life cycles and rapid technological change are challenging the manufacturing industry. In order to cope with these challenges and satisfy individual customer demands, alternative production systems like the Matrix-Structured Manufacturing System or Fluid Manufacturing System have to be considered. However, to enable the alternative production system to have the necessary flexibility and to ensure an efficient material supply, adaptable and flexible logistics concepts are necessary. In order to develop innovative logistics concepts, the exploration of present and future requirements and challenges for logistics concepts have to be discovered. Therefore, this paper analyzes requirements and challenges for production logistics by conducting qualitative research with a sample of various German companies from five industry sectors (automotive supply, automotive production, mechanical engineering as well as special mechanical engineering and component manufacturing). It concludes with specific approaches to developing new logistics concepts.