Title: Performance evaluation of flexible manufacturing system using digraph and matrix/GTA approach

Authors: Suman Gothwal; Tilak Raj

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad 121006, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad 121006, India

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse various measures and sub-measures that could influence the performance of flexible manufacturing system (FMS) and to develop a model to manage these measures. In this research work, digraph and matrix methodology has been utilised for determining the impact of different measures on the performance of FMS with the help of a single numerical value, i.e., index of performance. The findings of this study have important managerial significance. The management can determine the measures which strongly affect the performance of FMS with the help of this approach and can obtain better insight and guidelines for determining various decisions relating to process and operations improvement to improve the performance of the system. The procedure helps to compare different industries in terms of their performance index. If the performance index value of an industry is not as per with the required range, then, performance index of all the measures should be compared and weak measures should be made stronger by making improvements in the concerned measuring elements. Evaluation of performance index for an organisation, comparison of different industries performance and ways to improve the performance are a unique contribution in this domain.

Keywords: flexible manufacturing systems; performance measures; FMS performance; graph theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2016.077815

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2016 Vol.30 No.3/4, pp.253 - 276

Received: 10 Nov 2014
Accepted: 27 Sep 2015
Published online: 16 Jul 2016 *

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