A Systematic Simulation-Based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for the Evaluation of Semi–Fully Flexible Machine System Process Parameters

Abstract

Current manufacturing system health management is of prime importance due to the emergence of recent cost-effective and -efficient prognostics and diagnostics capabilities. This paper investigates the most used performance measures viz. Throughput Rate, Throughput Time, System Use, Availability, Average Stay Time, and Maximum Stay Time as alternatives that are responsible for the diagnostics of manufacturing systems during real-time disruptions. We have considered four different configurations as criteria on which to test with the proposed integrated MCDM (Multi-Criteria Decision-Making)-TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution)-based simulation approach. The main objective of this proposed model is to improve the performance of semi–fully flexible systems and to maximize the production rate by ranking the parameters from most influenced to least. In this study, first, the performance of the considered process parameters are analyzed using a simulation approach, and furthermore the obtained results are validated using real-time experimental results. Thereafter, using an Entropy method, the weights of each parameter are identified and then the MCDM-based TOPSIS is applied to rank the parameters. The results show that Throughput tTme is the most affected parameter and that Availability, average stay time, and max stay time are least affected in the case of no breakdown of machine condition. Similarly, Throughput Time is the most affected parameter and Maximum Stay Time is the least affected parameter in the case of the breakdown of machine condition. Finally, the rankings from the TOPSIS method are compared with the PROMETHEE method rankings. The results demonstrate the ability to understand system behavior in both normal and uncertain conditions.