In design of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS), different combinations of scheduling rules can be applied to its simulation model. Each combination satisfies a very limited number of performance measures (PM). Evaluation of scheduling rules is an inevitable task for any scheduler. This chapter explains a framework for evaluation of scheduling using pair-wise comparison multi-criterion decision-making techniques and fuzzy set theory. | Kazerooni A. et al Application of Fuzzy Set Theory in Flexible Manufacturing System Design Computational Intelligence in Manufacturing Handbook Edited by Jun Wang et al Boca Raton CRC Press LLC 2001 5 Application of Fuzzy Set Theory in Flexible Manufacturing System Design A. Kazerooni University of Lavisan K. Abhary University of South Australia L. H. S. Luong 5 University of South Australia . F. T. S. Chan University of Hong Kong Introduction A Multi-Criterion Decision-Making Approach for Evaluation of Scheduling Rules Justification of Representing Objectives with Fuzzy Sets Decision Points and Associated Rules A Hierarchical Structure for Evaluation of Scheduling Rules A Fuzzy Approach to Operation Selection Fuzzy-Based Part Dispatching Rules in FMSs Fuzzy Expert System-Based Rules Selection of Routing and Part Dispatching Using Membership Functions and Fuzzy Expert System-Based Rules Introduction In design of a flexible manufacturing system FMS different combinations of scheduling rules can be applied to its simulation model. Each combination satisfies a very limited number of performance measures PM . Evaluation of scheduling rules is an inevitable task for any scheduler. This chapter explains a framework for evaluation of scheduling using pair-wise comparison multi-criterion decision-making techniques and fuzzy set theory. Scheduling criteria or performance measures are used to evaluate the system performance under applied scheduling rules. Examples of scheduling criteria include production throughput makespan system utilization net profit tardiness lateness production cost flow time etc. Importance of each performance measure depends on the objective of the production system. More commonly used criteria were given by Ramasesh 1990 . Based on the review of the literature on FMS production scheduling problems by Rachamadugu and Stecke 1988 and Gupta et al. 1990 the most extensively studied scheduling criteria are minimization of flow .
