Performance Evaluation of Flexible Manufacturing Systems

A performance evaluation methodology for selecting flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) is described. Flexible manufacturing systems incorporate numerical control machines with robotic material handling units working automatically under computer control. In the FMS technology increasingly greater benefits are offered as it integrates more elements of the plant operation. Implementation and acquisition decisions leading to the realization of its overall value should take into account complex technical, operational and corporate policy concerns. In doing so, multiple objectives, where some of the factors are difficult to quantify, have to be dealt with. Typical concerns are related to machining capabilities, operational integrity, cost reduction, lead time, vendors’ reputation, and so forth. The multitude of issues relevant to these decision problem are addressed by the performance evaluation framework, treating both tangible and intangible decision factors. Their analysis is carried out through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A real industrial application of the model presented here is reported in this paper.