Optimal configuration selection in reconfigurable manufacturing system considering variable production rate

Various manufacturing companies produce different components, parts, or entire products based on market demands. These needs are met by a variety of manufacturing systems. However, in today's dynamic environment where production capacities and company capabilities are subject to change, reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) have emerged as crucial resources. At the heart of RMS lies the reconfigurable machine tool (RMT), which is designed with modular components to adapt to varying requirements. Evaluating the performance of RMS requires an index. This paper employs weighted sum theory to map various characteristics of RMS and develop a cumulative reconfigurability index. To illustrate the applicability of this methodology, a case study is presented, examining both machine and system levels. There are four configurations having eight RMTs arranged in different manner. The cumulative reconfigurability index is calculated for each configuration and the optimal configuration is selected. From this research, it has been observed that the reconfigurability index of system (d) is the highest, with system (a) having a value close to that of system (d).