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OM Forum: Organic Production Systems: What the Biological Cell Can Teach Us About Manufacturing

INSEAD, 1 Ayer Rajah Avenue, Singapore 138 676
Biomin Laboratory Singapore Private Ltd., 2 Woodlands Sector 1 #05-02, Woodlands Spectrum, Singapore 738068
Hewlett Packard Labs, Mailstop 1139, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California 94304, and INSEAD, Boulevard de Constance, 77305 Fontainebleau, France
lieven.demeester{at}insead.edu
knut.eichler{at}erber-group.net
christoph.loch{at}insead.edu

Biological cells run complicated and sophisticated production systems. The study of the cell's production technology provides us with insights that are potentially useful in industrial manufacturing. When comparing cell metabolism with manufacturing techniques in industry, we find some striking commonalities, but also some important differences. Like today's well-run factories, the cell operates a very lean production system, assures quality at the source, and uses component commonality to simplify production. While we can certainly learn from how the cell accomplishes these parallels, it is even more interesting to look at how the cell operates differently. In biological cells, all products and machines are built from a small set of common building blocks that circulate in local recycling loops. Production equipment is added, removed, or renewed instantly when needed. The cell's manufacturing unit is highly autonomous and reacts quickly to a wide range of changes in the local environment. Although this "organic production system" is very different from existing manufacturing systems, some of its principles are applicable to manufacturing, and indeed, a few can even be seen emerging today. Thus, the organic production system can be viewed as a possible scenario for the future of manufacturing.

Key Words: organic production; bionics; manufacturing strategy; local production; part commonality; volume flexibility; recycling
History: Received: April 23, 2003; accepted: November 25, 2003.