Qualitative assessment of flexibility characteristics in FMS

Describes a SERC funded collaborative project at the Open University in conceptual modelling of flexibility in production systems. The aim is to produce a set of formal relationships for associating flexibility types with design configurations, using a model-based approach to represent qualitatively different types of flexibility arising from particular designs. This flexibility knowledge of classes of FMS design will be used to establish guidelines for the planning of more appropriate production facilities.<
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