A Multi-attribute Simulation Paradigm for the Justification of FMS

Abstract

The flexible manufacturing System (FMS) is the most promising solution to the problem of producing high quality products efficiently while still being able to adapt quickly to changes in demand. Due to the high cost of such systems, they require careful justification before implementation. Most justification approaches take a long-term view that heavily emphasizes capital investment. However, proper decisions in the operation of an FMS can greatly improve its performance and contribute to its justification. This paper develops a multi-attribute simulation model of an FMS which permits assessment of short and intermediate-term operation decisions. Measures of performance include not only the traditional ones, such as production rate, utilization and delay times, but heretofore neglected measures of quality and reliability. Experimentation with the model demonstrates that variables which define flexibility properties have a significant effect on quality measures. If one is concerned with efficiency and high quality in an FMS, the model must include input variables and output measures that explicitly define quality and reliability relationships.