INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AGILE MANUFACTURERS

To remain competitive, manufacturers increasingly need a support syste m of transportation; telecommunications, services, and knowledge cente rs. In the United States, some cities and government agencies are buil ding individual components of a supporting infrastructure. But a strat egic approach in which. public and private sectors cooperate to create a business environment that enhances manufacturing agility is needed. An example of such a system is the Global Transpark in North Carolina , which has fully integrated air, rail, highway, and sea transportatio n systems,as well as telecommunication and state-of-the-art electronic data interchange technologies to support manufacturers' logistical re quirements. It contains the four elements that the authors say are nec essary to agile manufacturers. 1. A seamless transportation network, w ith traffic management vehicle control and safety systems, electronic toll payment, and emergency management systems. The network integrates air, sea, and land transportation through materials handling systems that accommodate various industries. 2. Telecommunications networks th at provide information on markets and orders, track and manage materia l Rows, and pool R&D information. 3. Access to financial institutions, marketing and sales agents and consultants, legal services, expositio n centers, and foreign trade zones. Agile manufacturers need commercia l and service support, along with community amenities like good school s and cultural facilities. 4. A source of scientists, engineers, and m anagers. Such knowledge centers provide access to R&D labs, colleges a nd universities, and a trained workforce. What is needed, according to Kasarda and Rondinelli, is a cooperative approach to create an enviro nment that Gills all these requirements. Such an approach needs govern ment and industry to work together to integrate infrastructure compone nts.