Modeling the Interactions Among Critical Criteria of a Cellular Manufacturing System

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the interactions between the critical criteria of implementation of the cellular manufacturing system (CMS). In this article, 15 critical criteria are chosen on the basis of literature review and opinion of experts from the manufacturing industry, which was analyzed for their interactions and dominant relationships using the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) methodology and interpretive ranking process (IRP) methodology, respectively. These distinct modeling approaches have been employed to study the appropriate relationship among the CMS implementation criteria and their ranking considering key performance areas. The study marks is an attempt to fulfill the gap in the literature, as the literature majorly focuses on CMS implementation, but pays no attention to models considering such critical criteria. The ISM model particularly highlighted the importance of employee training over other critical criteria, which will in turn ensure the success of CMS implementation, while the IRP model revealed CAD/CAM as the most important criterion when evaluated against various performance areas. The study, thus, paves a new way for manufacturing organization's management to be aware of critical criteria and analyze those that might be important for the future survival of the organization.