Order Management by Means of the 3-L-PPC Concept

The growing attempts of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to co-operate with other businesses of their size reflect the difficulties that SMEs face in coping with the current demands on manufacturing enterprises. By collaborating in networks, SMEs are not only able to achieve the same market power and economies of scale as large companies, but they are also able to maintain the flexibility and rapid response typical of a small enterprise. This kind of agility and dynamic structure can only be accomplished through process- and employee-oriented manufacturing structures. To ensure the successful market performance of a manufacturing enterprise, it is essential to introduce decentralized, autonomous organizational units which make production more transformable and adaptable. The use of both advanced information and communication systems helps to decentralize production and, at the same time, allows it to be an integrated part of an open manufacturing network.