Abstract
This paper proposes the Post Mass production Paradigm (PMPP), which is a system of economic activity capable of encouraging and sustaining economic growth without depending on mass production and mass consumption of artifacts. As technological methodologies to achieve PMPP, we propose a new type of artifact called soft artifact and a new type of engineering activity called knowledge intensive engineering. Some examples of soft artifacts are illustrated. Knowledge intensiveness requires systematization of various kinds of knowledge over product life cycle stages. In this paper, Intelligent Manufacturing Systems will be viewed as next generation manufacturing systems that exhibit features of the soft artifacts based on knowledge intensive engineering.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.