Title: Evaluation of flexibility in FMS by VIKOR methodology

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 evaluation of the most appropriate flexibility in the manufacturing sector is one of the strategic issues that may affect the flexible manufacturing system (FMS). In this paper, a multiple attribute decision making method methodology is structured to resolve this problem. The two decision making methods, which are analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and compromise solution method, also known as the VIšekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) method, are integrated in order to make the best use of information available. The purpose of using AHP is to turn over the weights of the variable and the VIKOR method is allowed to rank flexibility in FMS. Furthermore, the method uses fuzzy logic to alter the qualitative attributes into the quantitative attributes. Fifteen factors are taken for the evaluation of 15 flexibilities. In this paper, we concluded that production flexibility has the most impact in 15 flexibilities and programme flexibility has the least impact in these 15 flexibilities by this methodology.

Keywords: manufacturing flexibility; flexible manufacturing systems; FMS; multiattribute decision making; MADM; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; VIKOR; fuzzy logic; flexibility evaluation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2014.065619

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2014 Vol.18 No.4, pp.483 - 498

Received: 29 May 2013
Accepted: 04 Jul 2013

Published online: 07 Nov 2014 *

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