A Multilevel Decision Support System for the Financial Justification of Automated Flexible Manufacturing Systems

A decision support system (DSS) can be used to evaluate the conversion of batch production processes to automated flexible manufacturing processes. In this DSS, we utilize three levels of analysis: (1) the long-term, firm-planning level, (2) the medium-term, factory-operating level, and (3) the automated-work-cell-design level. An example DSS uses currently available software for the medium- and short-term levels. It can be used to examine detailed designs of work cells and determine their impact on alternative implementation strategies.