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In present research, the authors conducted the massive literature review and collected the information, in regards to material handling system (MHS) to build a multi criteria MHS hierarchical module consists of ecological cum fiscal criteria. Moreover, similar literature review assisted the authors to resolve and eventually construct the effectual and robust approach. The purpose of this paper is to facilitate the managers for benchmarking the MHS alternatives operating under similar module via robust decision support system (DSS).

In present research, the proposed module dealt with ecological (subjective) and fiscal (objective) criteria, where subjective criteria associated with incompleteness, vagueness, imprecision, as well as inconsistency, solicited the discrete information in terms of Grey set via linguistic scale from experts panel. The objective information (capital) has been assigned by expert’s panel in terms of Grey set. To robustly evaluate and select the admirable MHS, three approaches named: degree of possibility, technique for order preference similar to ideal solution as well as Grey relational analysis fruitfully applied to connect and unite discrete information.

The performance evaluation of MHSs has been carried out under concert of individual fiscal criteria excluding ecological criteria in past researches. Moreover the previous developed DSS tackled sole approach under individual fiscal criteria. The authors found the broad applications of fuzzy sets except Grey set theory in the same context for measuring the performance of MHS alternatives. Aforesaid research gaps have been transformed into research objectives by incorporating the module for both fiscal cum ecological criteria. This research embraces a robust DSS, which has been explored to select the admirable MHS alternative.

An empirical case study has been carried out in order to demonstrate the legitimacy of holistic Grey-MCDM method, implemented over multi criteria MHS hierarchical module. Proposed DSS seems to be the best for organisations, which believe to appraise and select the MHS including fiscal as well as ecological criteria excluding individual fiscal criteria. Moreover, subjective cum objective or individual subjective or objective criteria can be extended with respect to varieties of MHSs.

Selection of material handling systems (MHS) is an important decision to be taken during the design of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) as it affects the layout of FMS. Many researchers have addressed this issue of MHS selection in the domain of operations management, while a few of them have addressed this issue in the domain of FMS. However, none of them have modelled this problem by incorporating the relationship/dependencies that exist between various factors/attributes/criteria/elements (in short, it will be called “factors” for the sake of simplicity). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the development of the analytic network process (ANP) for the selection of MHS in the design of FMS for a hypothetical case organisation.

As mentioned above, selection of MHS in design of FMS is a complex decision‐making problem, as it is dependent on many factors. Hence, one of the recently developed multi‐attribute decision‐making (MADM) models – namely the ANP — is utilised as it has the capability to incorporate the relationship that exists between and within different factors. To demonstrate the application of ANP, a hypothetical case situation is presented.

The results obtained from ANP revealed that conveyor is a better alternative for the FMS under the given case situation. Furthermore, this study also revealed the computational complexity of the ANP, albeit it is successful implementation of dependency/relationships between the factors within the decision‐making process.

It is believed that this paper will enable the practitioners to appreciate the role of ANP in the strategic decision‐making process, apart from helping them understand how decisions can be made in a structured manner. However, it should be understood that although ANP can provide adequate support to the decisions being made, it requires the experience and judgements of the decision makers to arrive at a particular decision. Originality/value – According to the authors' knowledge, no paper exists in the literature that demonstrates the application of ANP, specifically for selecting a MHS during the design of FMS by considering 35 or more factors. Furthermore, the paper attempts to model this problem by incorporating the relationship/dependency that exist between these factors, which is unique when compared to those papers that have already dealt with this problem.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a “Reconfiguration Methodology” in manufacturing systems that they can become more economically sustainable and can operate efficiency and effectively. This methodology will allow customized flexibility and capacity not only in producing a variety of products (parts) and with changing market demands, but also in changing and reengineering the system itself.

Reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) is a philosophy or strategy which was introduced during the last decade to achieve agility in manufacturing systems. Until now, the RMS philosophy was based changing activities such routing, planning, programming of machines, controlling, scheduling, and physical layout or materials handling system. But the RMS concept can be based on the needed reconfiguration level (NRL), operational status of production systems, and new circumstances (NC). The NRL measure is based on the agility level of the manufacturing systems which is based on technology, people, management, and manufacturing strategies. The components of the manufacturing system design (MSD) consist of production system design, plant layout system, and material handling system. Operational status of production systems includes machine capability (flexibility) and capacity (reliability), production volume or demand, and material handling equipment in addition to the plant layout. The NC are also consisting of new product, developing the existing ones, and changing in demand.

Reconfiguration manufacturing systems from one period to another period is highly desired and is considered as a novel manufacturing philosophy and/or strategy toward creating new sustainable manufacturing systems. A new reconfiguration methodology for the manufacturing systems will be analyzed and proposed. Two Case studies will be introduced.

The suggestion of a new methodology of reconfiguration including the NRL (configurability index) and the operational status of manufacturing systems with respect to any circumstance is highly considered. The reconfiguration methodology also provides a framework for sustainability in the manufacturing area which mainly focussed on manufacturing systems design.

In simultaneous/concurrent engineering (SE/CE), many functions are performed concurrently; however, manufacturing logistics design is seldom considered. Presents an integrated methodology for the design of manufacturing logistics and links it with early phases of product design. The concept of “adaptability factor” is proposed, linking choice of manufacturing technology to handling operations performed.

FMS real time scheduling requires the concurrent solution of both loading and despatching problems. The loading strategy is the most critical and important scheduling decision in an FMS. Presents an effective loading rule (job‐group loading rule), based on experimental observations: a group of jobs, reflecting the ratios of the production mix, is loaded on the input warehouse every time that it is completely empty; all the jobs loaded on the input warehouse have to be accessible for the material handling system. Demonstrates how this job‐group loading works as a dynamic rule for real time scheduling of manufacturing systems, defining a part releasing policy able to guarantee reaching a periodic, steady state production. The capability of the job‐group loading rule has been verified when the FMS characteristics are closest to a real situation. Analyses the effects of the interferences on transport operations, the variability of machining times, the finite capacity of interoperational storage and the stops for preventive maintenance or breakdown. Research results show the capability in FMS management of real time scheduling based on the job‐group loading rule.

The paper aims to describe the design and development of an automated guided vehicle (AGV) that incorporates artificial intelligence techniques to increase its autonomy and flexibility. The aim is developing a flexible AGV that operates as a flexible material handling system (MHS) in dynamic industrial environments.

Introduces the entire on‐board control system including hardware and software designs. The sensory system consists of a laser navigation system for localisation and a security laser scanner for sensing the environment. The software architecture is instantiated in a CPU that is connected to low level controllers through a CAN bus. Simplicity, flexibility, robustness and safety were concerned in the design process.

The developed prototype is able to operate in partially structured and dynamic environments, is easily configured using an approximated description of the workplace and is able to adapt when slight floor layout modifications. This development shows that current technology permits introducing intelligent vehicles in complex manufacturing systems.

The prototype is successfully tested in a real factory, operating as a flexible MHS, transporting pallets between production and storage lines.

A novel flexible AGV is designed and developed to operate as a flexible MHS in dynamic industrial environments. The system satisfies the safety and robustness requirements of industrial applications. The flexible MHS results especially suitable for manufacturing systems that suffers from cyclic and seasonal variations and for flexible manufacturing systems where the possibility of choosing alternative routes is a must.

The meat industry is seeking to establish reassurance on traceability and production techniques that may help to promote confidence in the integrity and origin of their products. This paper reviews research and development activities for traceability and trackability in the meat industry. Achievements of individuals and research groups developing tools and techniques to improve the production process in handling and cutting meat portions for end users are discussed. In addition software/hardware, logistics and technical requirements for tracking material in a production process are introduced. With the aid of such established tools and techniques coupled with novel proposals, the authors offer a practical solution for the development of a tracking and traceability system within the meat industry. The proposed prototype system is capable of identifying and handling a product and the information attached to it throughout the production process to retail packs.

Presents a new design methodology and an integrated approach for the design of manufacturing systems. The methodology discusses the steps leading to design of manufacturing systems; the integrated approach suggests ways of integrating the different stages of manufacturing system design using genetic algorithms. The methodology and approach has been used for an industrial case study and the result has shown that the approach is effective.

This paper aims to propose the idea of developing an automatic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)‐based system for library search and to examine the existing literature to determine whether current technology and developed RFID‐based systems are helpful for building that. To fully understand its key points, adoptions, risks, and benefits, the fundamentals of radio frequency are to be identified and reviewed. Some applications of radio frequency identification in library systems and various industries are to be briefly discussed and four related cases reviewed.

The paper identifies key benefits and risks of radio frequency identification through review of library literature and case studies. For this purpose, four cases are reviewed from the entire industry and then key features of those cases are matched with the requirements of the big pictures' RFID‐based system to determine the current level of the RFID‐based system development.

To make library systems functional and successfully operational RFID solutions can be used to reduce operating costs through decreasing the labor costs, enhancing automation, improving tracking and tracing, and preventing the loss of materials under any circumstances.

The proposed automated RFID‐based system is a novel idea by itself. Owing to the fact that better management of books and materials becomes possible, materials are not lost, theft is avoided, and patrons are served on time and correctly.

Global competition has made it necessary for many firms to introduce such advanced technologies as Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS). However, the extent of such technology applications varies from industry to industry and has met various degrees of success. Reviews the impetus for the introduction of FMS and the conceptual aspects of such systems. Analyses the state of research on FMS, explores problems faced by the firms in implementing FMS and discusses the benefits ensuing from successful implementation of FMS. Includes a relatively extensive bibliography.