Modelling manufacturing system effectiveness: an integration of analytical hierarchy process and linear programming

Abstract

Manufacturing system effectiveness depends on several factors which include qualitative as well as quantitative factors. In the present paper, the management of the case company has to take a decision about the prioritisation of manufacturing systems on the basis of their effectiveness and has to decide about their production capacity. In the available literature, approaches like linear programming and AHP, mixed integer linear programming, and goal programming have been applied by some authors to tackle similar type of problems. These techniques are mathematical in nature and also consider qualitative factors which are crucial in determining the effectiveness of any manufacturing system, particularly when manufacturing systems are to be prioritised. The result from the research work with AHP framework indicates higher manufacturing effectiveness to leagile manufacturing system followed by agile manufacturing system, lean manufacturing system and flexible manufacturing system.