Proposed design of a DSS for the justification of advanced manufacturing technologies

The design of a decision support system (DSS) that helps the strategic planner evaluate the effect of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) on the performance of an organization and determine the parameters which affect the costs and benefits of such a system is introduced. The DSS involves analysis and quantification of costs and benefits through the use of interacting accounting, simulation, and optimization modules. It enables the decision maker to perform sensitivity analyses by allowing consideration of various scenarios and different levels of various inputs. In this DSS, the decision maker is able to combine either traditional accounting techniques or activity-based costing with simulation and optimization in order to arrive at a decision as to the level of investment to make in an AMT system.>