Modelling the factors affecting flexibility in FMS

Today’s dynamic market has forced the manufacturing managers to take interest in flexibility which bestows on an industry to respond promptly to market opportunities and changing technologies. The development of capabilities to be flexible rests on the mandate of top management, helps industries to manage market uncertainties and tends to enhance manufacturing performance. Manufacturing organisations are looking at flexible manufacturing system (FMS) as a viable alternative to enhance their competitive edge. There are, however, some factors affecting the flexibility of FMS. The aim of this research is to analyse and identify those factors which influence some other factors in a big way (called driving factors) and those which are most influenced by the others (called dependent factors). In this paper, these factors have been identified through literature, their ranking is done by a questionnaire-based survey and interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been utilised in analysing their mutual relationships. An ISM model of these factors has been prepared to identify some key factors and their managerial implications.