Investigations into the impact of flexibility on manufacturing performance

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1993

Abstract

This paper provides investigative insights into the impact of routeing flexibility, machine flexibility, and product-mix flexibility on the performance of a manufacturing plant. The study employs simulation modelling as the primary tool. The facility modelled is an automobile engine assembly plant consisting of a FMS (flexible manufacturing systems), job shop, and assembly line. A variety of experiments, with the FMS exhibiting one or more of the above three flexibilities at different levels, were simulated on the model. In each experiment the manufacturing performance as given by flow time and work-in-process inventory was tracked. The experiments focused first on the FMS itself, and then on the entire plant. Measures for the three flexibilities are introduced. The simulation results are analysed in detail. The results indicate significant performance benefits in context of the FMS, but little in context of the overall plant. © 1993 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Identifier

0027675841 (Scopus)

Publication Title

International Journal of Production Research

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1080/00207549308956861

e-ISSN

1366588X

ISSN

00207543

First Page

2337

Last Page

2354

Issue

10

Volume

31

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