A Tool for Assessing Reconfigurability of Distributed Manufacturing Systems

Amro M. Farid, Duncan C. McFarlane

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    In recent years, a large number of approaches to developing distributed manufacturing systems have 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, 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 chapter represents part of a study that 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. © 2006

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInformation Control Problems in Manufacturing 2006
    Pages499-504
    Number of pages6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2006

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