| The conventional manufacturing systems of today are being challenged by needs and trends, both economic and social in nature, which may change many aspects of the manufacturing scene. In light of these trends, cell manufacturing through group technology is emerging as a potential manufacturing system of the future. Group technology establishes a number of autonomous manufacturing cells run by a group of workers producing a group of similar products. However, changing from a conventional manufacturing approach to a group technology approach will necessitate changes in plant layout, probable changes in equipment requirements, and major changes in production and design thinking, accounting and costing functions and people's attitudes. This research develops a decision model to aid in the a priori evaluation of cell manufacturing. The decision model uses a multi-attribute utility assessment procedure to integrate the various facets of a production organization--economic, technical and behavioral--into a measure which can be used for comparing cell manufacturing with other production alternatives.;An interactive graphics computer model "UTILITY" is developed based on the multi-attribute utility assessment procedure. Prime consideration in the development of UTILITY was to create a program with decision support system characteristics: user-friendly, interactive and with access to relevant data base information. The use of the model is illustrated through selected applications in manufacturing. Even though the thrust of this research is in manufacturing, the model is general enough to be used in any decision environment where a set of alternatives are to be evaluated on multiple attributes; these application areas may be in the areas of individual, social or business decision making. |
