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An attribute approach to the measurement of manufacturing system flexibility
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Chang, An-Yuan (1999) An attribute approach to the measurement of manufacturing system flexibility. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b1369298~S15
Abstract
An uncertain environment has forced manufacturing systems to have flexibility.
Uncertainties involved with internal and external factors means that flexibility becomes
an important competitive factor for the firms. However, the concept of manufacturing
flexibility has not yet been clearly identified, understood and integrated. These
problems have led to researchers and practitioners getting confused and this produces
difficulties when trying to implement it.
The research in this thesis attempts to clarify and integrate the various aspects of
manufacturing flexibility measurement. The objective of the research was to develop
theoretical models to quantify the measurement with mathematical mechanisms. A
consolidated and synthesized approach, defined as the attribute approach is proposed
in this thesis. This leads to a unified framework for flexibility measurement.
Vague concepts together with arbitrarily used terminology has led to confusion in
concept and contradictions in manufacturing flexibility research. Omissions that
appeared in the literature have been identified and remedied in this research. Ten types
of flexibility attributes have been proposed and applied to six types of manufacturing
flexibility. By exploring of all ten types of flexibility attribute, it has been possible to
clarify the confused arguments found in the literature.
The main advantage of the attribute approach is its thorough treatment of flexibility
measurement. It has provided a conceptually understandable and theoretically precise
method of measuring manufacturing flexibility. It also points to new directions for
further research in this field. It is hoped that this thesis has pushed forward the frontier
of knowledge in this field.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor T Technology > TS Manufactures |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Flexible manufacturing systems, Manufactures -- Measurement, Manufactures -- Mathematical models | ||||
Official Date: | 9 September 1999 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | School of Engineering | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Walton, Andrew ; Whitehouse, D. J. (David J.) | ||||
Extent: | iii, 440 leaves | ||||
Language: | eng |
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