Title: A hybrid approach using ISM and modified TOPSIS for the evaluation of flexibility in FMS

Authors: Vineet Jain; Tilak Raj

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon 122413, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of Science and Technology, Main Delhi-Mathura Road, Sector-6, Faridabad-121006, India

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the flexibility in flexible manufacturing system (FMS). Two distinct modelling approaches have been employed. Flexibility and factors are identified through literature review, and a relationship is established in the opinion of experts from industries and academia. In this study, a hybrid model which employs interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and modified technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) together, are proposed. ISM has been used to develop a hierarchical structure of flexibility. Modified TOPSIS has been used to evaluate the flexibility based on some factors. ISM model concluded that production flexibility has the more driving power than other flexibilities. Modified TOPSIS also evaluated that production flexibility is the most important flexibility in the FMS. The criteria weights are calculated by using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).

Keywords: flexible manufacturing systems; FMS; manufacturing flexibility; flexibility evaluation; interpretive structural modelling; ISM; modified TOPSIS; literature review; analytical hierarchy process; AHP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2015.068201

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2015 Vol.19 No.3, pp.389 - 406

Received: 17 Jul 2013
Accepted: 01 Oct 2013
Published online: 24 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article