The Impact of Manufacturing Flexibility and Multi-Criteria Optimization on the Sustainability of Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

The presented manuscript deals with the impact of manufacturing flexibility on cost-time investment as a function of sustainable production, which addresses the company’s sustainable social and environmental impact adequately. The impact of manufacturing flexibility on cost-time investment in the research sphere is not described, despite the fact that we know its key role in the high-mix low-volume production types. Recently, researchers have been addressing intensively the impacts of various parameters on the sustainable aspect and its dependence on manufacturing flexibility. The complexity of the influence parameters is reflected in the multi-criteria nature of optimization problems that can be solved with appropriate use of the evolutionary computation methods. The manuscript presents a new method of manufacturing flexibility modelling, with respect to the four-level architectural model, which reflected as a symmetry phenomena influence on the cost-time profile diagram. The solution to a complex optimization problem is derived using the proposed improved heuristic Kalman algorithm method. A new method is presented of optimization parameters’ evaluation with respect to the manufacturing flexibility impacts on cost-time investment. The large impact of appropriate multi-criteria optimization on a sustainably justified production system is presented, with the experimental work on benchmark datasets and an application case. The new method allows a comprehensive optimization approach, and validation of the optimization results by which we can provide more sustainable products, manufacturing processes, and increase the company’s total, social and environmental benefits.

Selection of Material Handling Equipment using the AHP and MOORA

“…The results of the MHE alternative rating for each criterion are presented in Table 3. PR Cost Flexibility in material [32] FIM Benefit Cost [33] C Cost Availability of spare parts [34] AV Benefit On-site repair [35] OSR Benefit Area constraints [36] AC Benefit Risk [37] R Cost Distance to be moved [38] DIS Benefit…”

Simulation Study of a Flexible Manufacturing System Regarding Sustainability

“…The integrity of the presented architectural model makes it possible to determine the importance of simulation modelling methods to define and optimise flexible manufacturing systems' sustainability. A comprehensive optimisation approach enables detailed evaluation and optimisation of the manufacturing system with respect to the three key parameters of manufacturing flexibility with respect to the cost-time diagram, depending on manufacturing flexibility [9]. It was found that, in addition to the above characteristics, a flexible manufacturing system can also be evaluated for cost, time, and environmental sustainability.…”

“…Manufacturing flexibility can be structured fundamentally, using a four-level architectural model that allows comprehensive consideration of optimisation parameters, ranging from transportation, production capacity, product type and characteristics, and order series diversity [8]. With certainty, it can be argued that, when it comes to manufacturing orders' scheduling, its impact on the sustainable justification of manufacturing electric energy consumption, materials use, natural resources, social aspects of employees and the company, and, the most important financial, the viability of the manufacturing system, is important [9]. In the research work, we present a new method of simulation study approach, which addresses the problem of high-mix low-volume manufacturing scheduling comprehensively, in which a high degree of flexibility is essential to evaluate its sustainable viability.…”

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Techniques for Improvement Sustainability Engineering Processes

“…Apart from mentioned [31][32][33][34] they have cooperated as follow: India-UAE [35], Chile-India [36] and India-Denmark-Vietnam-Saudi Arabia [37]. Authors from Slovenia and Taiwan contributed without international cooperation, two papers from Slovenia [38,39] and one from Taiwan [40]. In addition, one study is result of cooperation authors between Hungary and Austria [41].…”