Optimal selection of modular products in reconfigurable manufacturing systems using analytic hierarchy process

Abstract

Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) are considered as a major resource of providing variable production capacities and capabilities by different manufacturing companies. To fulfil the market requirement variety of a modular product, manufactured in a reconfigurable manufacturing system, a methodology for optimal selection of modular products in reconfigurable manufacturing systems using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is proposed. The analytic hierarchy process is a theory of measurement through pair-wise comparisons and relies on the decisions of experts to obtain priority scales. The comparisons are made using a scale of absolute judgments that shows how much better one component is than another with respect to a given attribute. AHP is also helpful in taking decision when both qualitative and quantitative attributes are in a system. A case study is given to understand the applicability of the proposed methodology on a given system. © Copyright 2018 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.