Evaluation and optimization of the design schemes of reconfigurable machine tools based on multiple-attribute decision-making

Abstract

A reconfigurable manufacturing system is one designed for rapid change in its structure, to quickly adjust its production capacity and functionality within a part family. Aiming at the diversity, cost and complexity of reconfiguration design, a method for evaluating the design scheme of a reconfigurable machine tool based on VIKOR is proposed. The module similarity between a reconfigurable machine tool and a prototype machine tool is defined, and on this basis, three quantitative evaluation indicators are established as follows: the module chain similarity determines the difficulty, effort, time and efficiency of machine tool reconstruction; the module interface complexity determines the feasibility and complexity of the disassembly and assembly of the reconfiguration module; and the reconfiguration cost determines the economic advantages of reconfigurable machines relative to fixed-structure equipment. According to three indicators, a multi-attribute decision-making method based on VIKOR is used to evaluate, calculate and sort the design scheme set of the reconfigurable machine tool, and the optimal feasible solution is obtained. An example of the reconfiguration design of a machine tool is analysed to verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed method compared with the methods of simple average weighting and technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution.