Manufacturing companies face numerous challenges in managing change, including addressing the climate crisis, introducing new and sustainable products, and adapting to fluctuating demand. As a result, a long-term approach to manufacturing system design is essential for developing systems to ensure that systems remain relevant and competitive across multiple product generations. Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) offer a partial solution by enabling system modifications and equipment reuse. However, their widespread adoption in industry remains limited. This study investigates the development of an industrial RMS through a longitudinal case study conducted over six years, encompassing the initiation, design, and successful implementation phases. A systems perspective was adopted, emphasizing the design process, system architecture, organizational structure, and management practices. The study aims to identify the factors and key activities critical to the successful implementation of an industrial RMS from initial design through to full-scale production. • Factors for successful implementation of an industrial reconfigurable manufacturing system. • Describes the development of a reconfigurable manufacturing system from design to full production. • During six years a production development project within a large automotive company was studied. • Describes a real reconfigurable manufacturing system implementation in industry.