functionality for family changes. In this paper, an overview of the existing configuration flexibility factors is presented. A detailed characterization of automotive MMAL is provided and the main configuration change drivers are pointed out. It has been shown that the existing models for configuration flexibility assessment are based on oversimplified hypothesis and consequently don’t fit to automotive MMAL, characterized by an important complexity due to real industry context. A flow chart for MMAL flexibility heuristic is built as a decision support for managers to help them choosing the best solution. Many opportunities exist for future research. Some of these opportunities are highlighted below: - Analysing manufacturing system flexibility not only in term of configuration, but also in terms of operations, workstations and products. - Integrating product specifications in addition to process information, in configuration flexibility assessment, enables more accurate results as introduced in the co-evolution concept by Tolio et al. (2010). - Calling into question the typical serial layout of the automotive final assembly line may enrich the research field. Reconfiguring the same serial line several times, by sometimes adding expensive changes, is it always better than making parallel assembly lines?