Scalability in manufacturing systems design and operation: State-of-the-art and future developments roadmap

The paper covers the main design, management and operational aspects of scalability in manufacturing systems (MS). It promotes scalability as an area of research of MS theory and practice in order to enhance techniques and methodologies in existing MS paradigms using advanced and emerging design and management approaches and ICT, and meet challenges of emerging MS paradigms and support their promotion and effective and efficient deployment in practice. The paper presents an introduction to scalability, state-of-the art in manufacturing and computer science, and related applications including manufacturing and education and a roadmap for future research and developments. © 2013 CIRP.