A new reconfiguration strategy through a global perspective (Part 1: Analysis and methodolgy)

During the last decade, reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) is considered as a new philosophy of manufacturing that will allow flexibility not only in producing a variety of products (parts) and changing in market demands, but also in changing the system itself. Until now, RMS philosophy was depended on some of several activities such as re-routing, re-planning, reprogramming of machines, re-controlling, rescheduling, rearranging the physical layout, changing or rearranging materials handling systems, but actual RMS based on needed reconfiguration level (NRL) and status of production systems is still unexplored. The NRL measure (Garbie, I.H. et al., 2007a) based on the agility level (Garbie, I.H. et al., 2007b) of manufacturing system and components of manufacturing system design. Status of production systems means machine capability (flexibility) and capacity, and production volume (demand), and material handling equipment beside the plant layout. As RMS was appeared as one strategy to achieve agility in manufacturing systems, reconfigurable these systems from a period to another is highly desired. This concept can be considered through the NRL and the status of manufacturing system design. A new reconfiguration strategy for the manufacturing systems will be analyzed and proposed.