Selection of a Layout Configuration for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems Using the Ahp

Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) are designed to rapidly respond to changing market requirements. RMSs operate on various products grouped into families according to their operational requirements. Therefore, an RMS may require different layout configurations while switching from one product to the other. This paper investigates the criteria, which can influence on choosing layout configurations. It then develops an AHP model to structure the criteria for the selection of the most appropriate layout for each configuration stage. The criteria are defined based on the layout reconfigurability, cost, quality and reliability. The alternatives are identified based on the serial / parallel configurations of the given machines.