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The Fendt VarioTakt: Revolutionizing Mixed-Model Assembly Line Production

Author

Listed:
  • Arnd Huchzermeier

    (WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management, 56179 Vallendar, Germany)

  • Tobias Mönch

    (bAGCO GmbH, 87616 Marktoberdorf, Germany)

  • Peter Bebersdorf

    (bAGCO GmbH, 87616 Marktoberdorf, Germany)

Abstract

This case study is designed for undergraduate and graduate (EMBA, MBA, or MSc) students in operations management and e-commerce courses that focus on customer-centric manufacturing approaches. Motivated by the real-world application at Fendt, an innovation leader in the global market for agricultural machinery, students learn about a novel assembly line balancing and sequencing approach for mixed-model assembly with a special twist of an unusually high and varying degree of customization for each product. By developing and implementing the “VarioTakt,” Fendt is able to eradicate most labor inefficiencies (namely, idle time and utility work) and to curtail capital investments while raising its responsiveness to customer demand and plant productivity to a level that today serves as a global benchmark within its own industry and across industries such as automotive, machine tools, and electronics.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnd Huchzermeier & Tobias Mönch & Peter Bebersdorf, 2020. "The Fendt VarioTakt: Revolutionizing Mixed-Model Assembly Line Production," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 134-140, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orited:v:20:y:2020:i:3:p:134-140
    DOI: 10.1287/ited.2019.0224ca
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nick T. Thomopoulos, 1967. "Line Balancing-Sequencing for Mixed-Model Assembly," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 59-75, October.
    2. Boysen, Nils & Fliedner, Malte & Scholl, Armin, 2008. "Assembly line balancing: Which model to use when," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(2), pages 509-528, February.
    3. Scholl, Armin, 1995. "Balancing and sequencing of assembly lines," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 9690, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
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