Introduction of a New Evaluation Methodology

Abstract

In the previous chapters dealt with the foundation of the Evaluation Methodology. Flexibility Indices in the context of this book are to be considered fundamentally as measured values, which use the quantifiable and reproducible measurement of relevant characteristics to define the flexibility of a production system. For the required calculation of these characteristics, special Flexibility Evaluation methods and metrics are necessary. The conceptual composition of these methods and their integration in the production system model are the subject of this chapter. Firstly, the fundamental approach to the planned calculation of the Volume-, Mix- and Expansion flexibilities should be defined and the parameters used to quantify them should be clarified. This results in the detailed definition of the calculation procedure for the measurement of the individual flexibilities. Due to their production-economic background, a special cost calculating reference frame will be defined, which will ensure the required quality of the calculated Flexibility Indices in that it guarantees a thorough cost record incorporating every level of observation. The presented approach to execution of a production system model illustrates how a data-specific connection can be made between a real world object and the Flexibility Evaluation method.