Measures and methods for a new taxonomy in manufacturing enterprises

Most popular classifications of factories are generally based on their size; the number of employees, the annual turnover and the volume of production are common indicators by which an enterprise can be categorised. Factories can also be characterized in terms of their production system, such as lean manufacturing and flexible manufacturing. However, these methods of classification generally do not include some important aspects of the industrial production that are significant in distinguishing the different ways of fabricating goods. Several technical characteristics of the production system, for example the quantity of craftwork involved, are particularly helpful in identifying the level of sustainability of the manufacturing activity. Other important factors include the cultural value that the system can add to the product and the connection and integration of the enterprise in the territory. Guidelines to define a quantitative method to measure the different aspects that characterize manufacturing production are here proposed in order to allow the definition of a new taxonomy in manufacturing enterprises.