Perceptions and Problems Related to the Use of Manufacturing Automation in a Small, Geographically Isolated Economy 1 Perceptions and Problems Related to the Use of Manufacturing Automation in a Small, Geographically Isolated Economy Dawn Zammit 1 , Sandro Azzopardi 1 , Michael A. Saliba 1* , and Martin M. Zammit 2 1 Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering 2 Department of Management University of Malta Msida, Malta ABSTRACT In small, geographically isolated economies, it is possible to find a lack of appropriate support for the implementation of state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies for manufacturing automation, thus compromising the efficiency and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in the global marketplace. In this work, we carry out a critical investigation of the use of automation within the manufacturing sector of such an economy, using the island nation of Malta as a case study. We focus mainly on high value-added manufacturing, characterized by the need for high product variety and relatively low product quantities, and triggering the need for versatility in production facilities, potentially in the form of reconfigurable production systems. We have developed a set of detailed questions, in the form of a survey questionnaire, which we pose to a sample of companies from various sub-sectors, and of various sizes, within the Maltese manufacturing sector. Respondents answer the questions in the setting of a semi-structured interview, following an extensive familiarization tour of the company facilities by the interviewers. We present the results, as well as their analysis and interpretation, from our first sample of thirty manufacturing firms, ranging in size from micro to large, and taken mainly from the electronics, medical, pharmaceuticals, plastics, food and beverage, chemicals, and furniture industries. 1. INTRODUCTION In the past decade, various authors have discussed the emerging challenges related to the continuous struggle faced by manufacturing companies to improve efficiency and effectiveness [1]-[5]. These challenges affect different manufacturing sectors to varying extents, however in general they continue to become more stringent, for a number of reasons. Firstly, customers are expecting a much larger amount of product variants and increased quality. Secondly, as time passes, there is continuous progress in technology, and as a result, products are constantly evolving so as to incorporate new technologies. Manufacturing systems and processes are also being directly affected with this advancement of technology due to the development of new techniques, processes and equipment. The introduction of regulations is also having an effect on the manufacturing industry, both due to regulations affecting the product, as well due to regulations that require a particular change in a manufacturing process. Another existing challenge concerns the shift to an ever-expanding globalised market, with manufacturing companies no longer having to compete only against local companies, but nowadays having to compete against distant and/or foreign companies as well. However, such studies have generally been based on relatively large countries and economies, or else been based on very general overall situations. The specific aim of our work is to carry out a critical investigation of the manufacturing situation within a small and geographically isolated economy, with a focus on the implementation of industrial automation, and to identify and address problems that exist. Solutions to identified problems will be developed with a focus along the new paradigm of reconfigurable manufacturing automation systems. This paradigm was developed in the early 1990s and early 21 st century, and various authors have discussed Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) [2], [3], [5], Reconfigurable Equipment [6], and Reconfigurable Machine Tools [7]-[9]. Such systems bridge the gap between Dedicated Manufacturing Systems and Flexible Manufacturing Systems, and combine the advantages of both approaches. RMSs are built around a part family, or part families, allowing product variants within the respective part family/families to be manufactured through a * Corresponding author: Tel.: (00356) 2340-2924; Fax: (00356) 2134-3577; E-mail: michael.saliba@um.edu.mt