**Abstract**

Nowadays, good coordination of production and logistics at a production operational level is required to handle rapidly evolving technology, frequently changing customer demand and satisfaction, and remain competitive. Accelerated by exponentially growing technologies in information and communication technology, production industries are in the throes of a digital transformation, which is referred to as the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0. The shorter product life cycles due to market-demand variables and volatile developments in the production system have forced manufacturing company to work flexibly in order to adapt to changing customer needs. These environments cannot be managed through traditional production systems such as job shops and dedicated production lines. Reconfigurable manufacturing system, which combines the versatility and capability to re-configure of job shops and the dedicated production lines, has been seen as a potential solution in such situations. As the main component of production systems, a new concept of material handling, a reconfigurable conveyor system is introduced.

**Keywords:** production system, Industry 4.0, reconfigurable, revolution

## **1. Introduction**

Production industries are one of the important industries, which produce and manufacture various products. This industry makes a large influence in the country's economic growth and quality of life for its citizens because production creates lasting wealth while also distributes wealth through high-paying jobs.

The impact of globalization has created a new challenge for production industries. The possibility for greater integration within the world economy through movements of goods and services, capital, technology, and labor has been leading to a market situation that is difficult to predict. A rose only by 3.6% in the world manufacturing value-added in 2018, slightly lower than the 3.8% recorded in the previous year, has proved that production industries nowadays cannot depend on steady market demands any longer [1].

Production companies have been confronted with a dynamic and changing environment for a long time. The fast transfer of information and global open markets have increased the change frequency [2]. This has raised the pressure of time and costs.

Today's changing market climate has broadened up the horizon of competition for many companies. Dealing with a short innovation cycle of global competitors

and a wide range of individualized product demands from customers all over the world, companies will need to provide quality and reliable products within the international competition needs. Only enterprises that react on changing markets and customer preferences quickly and cost-effectively are able to stay competitive in this environment [3]. On the other hand, the competition has opened up and provides an endless challenge to the researcher to provide a better solution.

As forecasting and planning become less and less reliable, the support for continuous changes is helpful. Short response times and high changeability in layout and in processes for the production and logistics systems are strongly required [2].
