Framework for designing and controlling a multicellular flexible manufacturing system Online publication date: Tue, 14-Feb-2006
by Riccardo Manzini, Alessandro Persona, Alberto Regattieri
International Journal of Services and Operations Management (IJSOM), Vol. 2, No. 1, 2006
Abstract: In the economic environment of recent years, management in modern organisations has had to make flexible responses to constantly changing new product lines and product varieties. Flexibility, which is the capability of a system to adapt to changes made to it, is becoming one of the most critical factors for success in the manufacturing industry. In this context, the design and the management of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) are crucial and important issues. This paper presents an innovative, integrated, and optimising iterative process which supports the planning and control of a multistage and multicellular FMS. It is based on the simultaneous application of simulation tools and heuristic techniques. The proposed framework has been applied to the optimisation of a manufacturing system from the Italian automotive industry. The effectiveness of simulation techniques, aimed at the strategic and operative decision-making process, emerges.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
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:
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
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook