Purpose - The purpose of this study was to develop a 40-criteria agility assessment model and explore its practical feasibility in an industrial scenario. Design/methodology/approach - Agile manufacturing (AM) principles enable organizations to understand customer needs and incorporate the necessary changes in product- and processes-oriented approaches. In this research study, a 40-criteria agility assessment model was developed. The agility assessment model was subjected to investigation in an Indian relays manufacturing organization. Findings - The research study indicates that the organization is agile. Besides computing agility level, the gaps across agile criteria have been identified and actions for agility improvement were subjected to implementation in the case organization. Research limitations/implications - The 40-criteria agility assessment model was subjected to investigation in a single manufacturing organization. In future, more number of studies could be conducted. Practical implications - To acquire agile characteristics, modern organizations should assess the agility level at which they operate. In this context, the agility assessment model was developed. Originality/value - The agility assessment tool presented in this paper consists of 40 agile criteria, which are well supported by the research findings reported in literature. Hence, the developed 40-criteria agile model is original and novel. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.