TY - GEN
T1 - A tool for assessing reconfigurability of distributed manufacturing systems
AU - Farid, Amro M.
AU - McFarlane, Duncan C.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - In recent years, a large number of approaches to developing distributed manufacturing systems has been proposed. One of the principles reasons for these development has been to enhance the reconfigurability of a manufacturing operation; allowing it to readily adapt to changes over time. However, to date, there has only been a limited assessment of the resulting reconfigurability properties and hence it remains inconclusive as to whether a distributed manufacturing system design approach does in fact improve reconfigurability. This paper represents part of a study which investigates this issue. It proposes an assessment tool - the so called "Design Structure Matrix" as a means of assessing the modularity of elements in a manufacturing system. (Modularity has been shown to be a key characteristic of a reconfigurable manufacturing system.) The use of the Design Structure Matrix is illustrated in assessing a robot assembly cell designed on distributed manufacturing system principles.
AB - In recent years, a large number of approaches to developing distributed manufacturing systems has been proposed. One of the principles reasons for these development has been to enhance the reconfigurability of a manufacturing operation; allowing it to readily adapt to changes over time. However, to date, there has only been a limited assessment of the resulting reconfigurability properties and hence it remains inconclusive as to whether a distributed manufacturing system design approach does in fact improve reconfigurability. This paper represents part of a study which investigates this issue. It proposes an assessment tool - the so called "Design Structure Matrix" as a means of assessing the modularity of elements in a manufacturing system. (Modularity has been shown to be a key characteristic of a reconfigurable manufacturing system.) The use of the Design Structure Matrix is illustrated in assessing a robot assembly cell designed on distributed manufacturing system principles.
KW - Design structure matrix
KW - Modularity
KW - Reconfigurability
KW - Reconfigurable manufacturing systems
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79961175270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79961175270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3182/20060517-3-fr-2903.00272
DO - 10.3182/20060517-3-fr-2903.00272
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:79961175270
SN - 9783902661043
T3 - IFAC Proceedings Volumes (IFAC-PapersOnline)
BT - 12th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing, INCOM 2006, and Associated Industrial Meetings
ER -