Fuzzy methods for analysing fuzzy production environment

Abstract

Very recently, in production management research literature, the necessity to extend production systems analysis techniques, such as queue theory, Mean Value Analysis (MVA) and discrete simulation, to Fuzzy Production Environments, i.e. to those production situations in which data are vague, has emerged. Fuzzy set theory is a powerful tool to model vagueness and, therefore, fuzzy mathematics can be used to extend classical production system analysis techniques. This paper proposes a methodology based on fuzzy relation algebra to extend classical MVA and discrete event simulation.