Title: An ISM approach to analyse interaction between barriers of transition to Flexible Manufacturing System

Authors: Tilak Raj, Ravi Shankar, Mohammed Suhaib

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA Institute of Engineering, Faridabad 121006, India. ' School of Management, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand. ' Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

Abstract: Manufacturing companies have realised the importance of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) due to ever changing customer demands and growing international competition. But, implementation of this universally accepted and challenging technology is not an easy task. There are certain barriers which not only influence the implementation process but also influence each other. The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse these barriers. A questionnaire based survey was conducted to rank these barriers. The results of this survey and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach have been used for converging to some key barriers and their managerial implications.

Keywords: FMS implementation; flexible manufacturing systems; ISM; interpretive structural modelling; rate of return over investment; ROI; implementation barriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2009.023756

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.16 No.4, pp.417 - 438

Published online: 10 Mar 2009 *

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