Conceptual modelling of manufacturing flexibility

Conceptual modelling, appropriate at representing and manipulating abstract underdeveloped constructs, is applied to manufacturing flexibility. The results is a network of concept nodes that can provide users (or specifiers) with a more formal means to develop flexibility requirements in terms of machine and system features. The paper examines the basic concepts of flexibility and translates them into a conceptual model (described at a general and detailed level) which in turn is implemented in a knowledge-based system. An example of a specific application domain (a sheet metal machining cell) is provided to assist detailed explanation