Design for Sustainability and Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems - An Critical Analysis

Abstract

Manufacturing Systems (MS) are a fundamental means of establishing profitable engineering operations in mechanical firms. The technical and physical structures of MS determine the dimension of adaption and signify the measure of freedom of engineers of MS. This contribution discusses the Reconfiguring Cellular Manufacturing System (RCMS) concept, which considers the design of systems as cyclical activities whereby the makers of decisions can determine the MS’s system capacities and capabilities. The standard methodologies to support the design of MS are optimization and analysis of MS. The timeframe essential for evaluating numerous designs is a fundamental factor, which can also discourage the application of these systems. Resultantly, there is a threat of missed assessment of suitable designs when the number and quality of the solution users being assessed is based on the users’ intuition with respect to the potential design result.