Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An ISM based framework for structural relationship among various manufacturing flexibility dimensions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present era, when manufacturing industry is facing competitive, unpredictable, and dynamic environment, with growing complexity, and high levels of customisation, industry leaders are striving hard to invent and adopt newer technologies. The unexpected events, so called disturbances invariably affect the overall performance of manufacturing system (MS) which can be handled by incorporating flexibility dimensions with respect to design, operation, and management of MS. In this paper, various manufacturing flexibility dimensions critical to flexible MS are identified from the literature review, and brain storming with academicians and practicing managers. Interpretive structural modeling approach is applied to develop a structural framework for 10 well accepted flexibility dimensions, which are further classified into three levels namely individual/resource, shop floor, and plant. The results indicates that flexibility dimensions performed at individual/resource level is most crucial followed by flexibility dimensions performed at level of shop floor, and level of plant in order, for MS performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attri R, Grover S, Dev N, Kumar D (2013a) An ISM approach for modelling the enablers in the implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). Int J Syst Assur Eng Manag 4(4):313–326. doi:10.1007/s13198-012-0088-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attri R, Dev N, Sharma V (2013b) Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach: an overview. Res J Manag Sci 2(2):3–8. ISSN 2319-1171

  • Attri R, Grover S, Dev N, Kumar D (2013c) Analysis of barriers of total productive maintenance (TPM). Int J Syst Assur Eng Manag 4(4):365–377. doi:10.1007/s13198-012-0122-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baykasoğlu A, Özbakır L (2008) Analysing the effect of flexibility on manufacturing systems performance. J Manuf Technol Manag 19(2):172–193

  • Beach R, Muhlemann AP, Price DHR, Paterson A, Sharp JA (2000) A review of manufacturing flexibility. Eur J Oper Res 122:41–57

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Borade AB, Bansod SV (2012) Interpretive structural modeling-based framework for VMI adoption in Indian industries. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 58:1227–1242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne J, Dubois D, Rathmill K, Sethi SP, Stecke KE (Feb 1984) Types of flexibilities and classification of flexible manufacturing systems. Working Paper No. 367. Division of Research, Graduate School of Business Administration, The University of Michigan

  • Carter ME (1986) Designing flexibility into automated manufacturing systems. In: Stecke KE, Suri R (eds) Proceedings of the second ORSA/TIMS conference on flexible manufacturing systems—research models and applications, University of Michigan, USA, 12–15 August 1986. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 107–118

  • Cesaní VI, Steudel HJ (2005) A study of labour assignment flexibility in cellular manufacturing systems. Comput Ind Eng 48:571–591

  • Chan FTS (2001) The effects of routing flexibility on a flexible manufacturing system. Int J Comput Integr Manuf 14(5):431–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan FTS, Bhagwat R, Wadhwa S (2006) Increase in flexibility: productive or counterproductive? A study on the physical and operating characteristics of a flexible manufacturing system. Int J Prod Res 44(7):1431–1445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang AY (2012) Prioritising the types of manufacturing flexibility in an uncertain environment. Int J Prod Res 50(8):2133–2149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen FF, Adam EE Jr (1991) The impact of flexible manufacturing systems on productivity and quality. IEEE Trans Eng Manag 38(1):33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung C (1996) Human issues influencing the successful implementation of advanced manufacturing technology. J Eng Technol Manag 13:283–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Souza DE, Williams FP (2000) Toward a taxonomy of manufacturing flexibility dimensions. J Oper Manag 18:577–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Toni A, Tonchia S (1998) Manufacturing flexibility: a literature review. Int J Prod Res 36(6):1587–1617. doi:10.1080/002075498193183

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Francas D, Lohndorf N, Miller S (2011) Machine and labour flexibility in manufacturing networks. Int J Prod Econ 131:165–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerwin D (1989) Manufacturing flexibility in the CAM era. Bus Horizons 32:78–84

  • Gerwin D, Tarondeau JC (1989) International comparisons of manufacturing flexibility. In: Ferdows K (ed) Managing international manufacturing. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 169–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta YP, Goyal S (1989) Flexibility of manufacturing systems: concepts and measurements. Eur J Oper Res 43:119–135

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Hall D, Stecke K (1986) Design problems of flexible assembly. In: Stecke KE, Suri R (eds) Proceedings of the second ORSA/TIMS conference on flexible manufacturing systems—research models and applications, University of Michigan, USA, 12–15 August 1986. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 145–156

  • Héctor Kaschel C, Bernal LMSY (2006) Importance of flexibility in manufacturing systems. Int J Comput Commun Control 1(2):53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsiao S, Ko Y, Lo C, Chen S (2013) An ISM, DEI, and ANP based approach for product family development. Adv Eng Inform 27:131–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang SL, Barfield W, Chang TC, Salvendy G (1984) Integration of humans and computers in the operation and control of flexible manufacturing systems. Int J Prod Res 22:841–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaikumar R (1984) Flexible manufacturing systems: a managerial perspective, WP #1-784-078. Harvard Business School, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph OA, Sridharan R (2011a) Effects of routing flexibility, sequencing flexibility and scheduling decision rules on the performance of a flexible manufacturing system. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 56:291–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph OA, Sridharan R (2011b), Effects of flexibility and scheduling decisions on the performance of an FMS: simulation modelling and analysis. Int J Prod Res 1–21. doi:10.1080/00207543.2011.575091

  • Kara S, Kayis B (2004) Manufacturing flexibility and variability: an overview. J Manuf Technol Manag 15(6):466–478. doi:10.1108/17410380410547870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koste LL, Malhotra MK (1999) A theoretical framework for analyzing the dimensions of manufacturing flexibility. J Oper Manag 18:75–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandal A, Deshmukh SG (1994) Vendor selection using interpretive structural modelling. Int J Oper Prod Manag 14(6):52–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra R, Pundir AK, Ganapathy L (2014) Manufacturing flexibility research: a review of literature and agenda for future research. Glob J Flex Syst Manag. doi:10.1007/s40171-013-0057-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Morito S, Takano T, Mizukawa H, Mizoguchi K (1991) Design and analysis of a flexible manufacturing system with simulation-effects of flexibility on FMS performance. In: Proceedings of the 1991 winter simulation conference, Phoenix, AZ, USA, 8–11 December 1991, pp 294–301

  • Peláez-Ibarrondo JJ, Ruiz-Mercader J (2001) Measuring operational flexibility, manufacturing information systems. In: Proceedings of the fourth SME international conference. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.110.7993&rep=rep1&type=pdf. Accessed 20 July 2013

  • Ramasesh RV, Jayakumar MD (1991) Measurement of manufacturing flexibility: a value based approach. J Oper Manag 10(4):446–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranta J (1989) The impact of electronics and information technology on the future trends and applications of CIM technologies. In: Ranta J (ed) Trends and impacts of computer-integrated manufacturing. IIASA, Laxenburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranta J, Alabian A (1988) Interactive analysis of FMS productivity and flexibility, W.P.-88-098. IIASA, Laxenburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (2004), Fundamentals of the analytic network process—multiple networks with benefits, costs, opportunities and risks. J Syst Sci Syst Eng 13(3):348–379

  • Saleh JH, Mark G, Jordan NC (2009) Flexibility: a multidisciplinary literature review and a research agenda for designing flexible engineering systems. J Eng Des 20(3):307–323. doi:10.1080/09544820701870813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawhney R (2013) Implementing labour flexibility: a missing link between acquired labour flexibility and pant performance. J Oper Manag 31:98–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi AK, Sethi SP (1990) Flexibility in manufacturing: a survey. Int J Flex Manuf Syst 2:289–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shewchuk JP, Moodie CL (1998) Definition and classification of manufacturing flexibility types and measures. Int J Flex Manuf Syst 10:325–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slack N (1987) The flexibility of manufacturing systems. Int J Oper Prod Manag 7(4):35–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talib F, Rahman Z, Qureshi MN (2011) An interpretive structural modelling approach for modelling the practices of total quality management in service sector. Int J Model Oper Manag 1(3):233–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakkar J, Kanda A, Deshmukh SG (2008) Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) of IT-enablers for Indian manufacturing SMEs. Inf Manag Comput Secur 16(2):113–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Upton DM (1995) What really makes factories flexible? Harv Bus Rev 73(4):74–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdez CRG (2010) The impact of manufacturing flexibility on system performance—a simulation based approach. PhD Thesis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham

  • Vokurka RJ, O’Leary-Kelly SW (2000) A review of empirical research on manufacturing flexibility. J Oper Manag 18:485–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadhwa S, Browne J (1989) Modeling FMS with petrinets. Int J Flex Manuf Syst 1:255–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadhwa S, Rao KS, Chan FTS (2005) Flexibility-enabled lead-time reduction in flexible system. Int J Prod Res 43(15):3131–3163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warfield JW (1974) Developing interconnected matrices in structural modeling. IEEE Transcr Syst Men Cybern 4(1):81–87

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Yin S, Wang W, Teng L, Hsing YM (2012) Application of DEMATEL, ISM, and ANP for key success factor (KSF) complexity analysis in R&D alliance. Sci Res Essays 7(19):1872–1890. doi:10.5897/SRE11.2252

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the unknown reviewers for their critical review and the pointing suggestions that enabled us to bring out the present form of the work. We are, indeed, thankful to them.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, 177005, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Shailendra Kumar & Rajiv Kumar Sharma

Authors
  1. Shailendra Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rajiv Kumar Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajiv Kumar Sharma.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, S., Sharma, R.K. An ISM based framework for structural relationship among various manufacturing flexibility dimensions. Int J Syst Assur Eng Manag 6, 511–521 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-014-0279-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-014-0279-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation