Evaluating the effect of machine and routing flexibility on flexible manufacturing system performance
by Ajay Singholi; Mohammed Ali; Chitra Sharma
International Journal of Services and Operations Management (IJSOM), Vol. 16, No. 2, 2013

Abstract: The present market conditions require manufacturing systems to expand their actions under the dynamic and uncertain production environment. To deal with such conditions, new technologies support increased manufacturing flexibility and automation. Machine and routing flexibility are the most common flexibility types employed in manufacturing systems. This paper presents a framework based on Taguchi experimental design for evaluating the effects of varying levels of machine and routing flexibility on the performance of an FMS. The system performance measures considered are makespan, average waiting time (AWT), and average utilisation (AUR). Other factors that will affect the system performance are also investigated, such as number of parts and control rules. Results of simulation study indicate that number of parts and routing flexibility are the two most important factors influencing the FMS performance; however, there are some optimal combinations of factors that represent the best system performance under the given set of operating conditions.

Online publication date: Wed, 02-Jul-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Services and Operations Management (IJSOM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com