Title: Modelling the social implications of flexible manufacturing system through ISM: a case of India

Authors: Surinder Kumar; Tilak Raj

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of Science and Technology, Sector-6, Faridabad, Haryana, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of Science and Technology, Sector-6, Faridabad, Haryana, India

Abstract: Flexible manufacturing systems offer many advantages over conventional manufacturing systems to enable different organisations to compete in global markets. Despite these benefits, FMSs have some important impacts on the social life. Through this paper an attempt has been made to study the social implications of this high technology related manufacturing on Indian society. For this purpose, interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique has been utilised to identify the driving and dependent social implications of flexible manufacturing system (FMS). Moreover, ISM technique has been used in finding the mutual relations of these social implications by developing a frame work model. This ISM model may be utilised to identify the key social implications which will be helpful in the area of FMS. In the present work, factor affecting the social implication of FMS have been recognised through literature study and an ISM model has also been prepared based on ranking of questionnaire-survey and opinion of experts.

Keywords: interpretive structural modelling; ISM; social implications; flexible manufacturing systems; FMS implementation; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOM.2014.063592

International Journal of Modelling in Operations Management, 2014 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.72 - 94

Received: 04 Nov 2013
Accepted: 08 May 2014

Published online: 30 Jul 2014 *

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