ABSTRACT
The pace of industrial change has quickened during the past 14 years and will accelerate still further as America moves toward the 21st century. In the future, those companies that are keenly proficient at planning, implementing, and adapting to change will have a remarkable strategic advantage over their competitors. The basis of this proficiency will be flexibility in workers and managers, a less rigid corporate hierarchy, optimal use of technology, an emphasis on people, and widespread cooperation and teamwork within and outside of the organization-in essence, agile manufacturing.
