Fuzzy Set Oriented Measurement on Manufacturing System Flexibility

This paper is devoted to set up a measuring module of manufacturing system flexibility with fuzzy set theory via the method of template method. Starting with the hierarchic analysis on the different types of flexibility lie in a unified manufacturing system, with a further analysis on the interrelationship between input and output of the manufacturing system, a module based on the function of degree of membership is built up, and methodology for practical application has been provided. Proofs have been provided to identify the extremum and the monotone descent property of the module. Method of defining the optimized output of manufacturing system as per various levels of its flexibility is also presented. With the help of flexibility-output surplus, it is illustrated that any pursuit of flexibility is based on increasing costs and waste of manufacturing capability.