Manufacturing

Fuzzy sets and systems methodologies are useful for modeling uncertainty and imprecision due to the complexity of contemporary manufacturing systems, which integrate skills and knowledge of people and technology. This section presents an overview of applications of fuzzy methodologies in the manufacturing environment. The specific areas of application are categorized into the following classes of relevant manufacturing activities: (i) engineering design, (ii) production process planning, (iii) flexible manufacturing systems and group technology, (iv) scheduling, (v) robotics, (vi) cost-benefit analysis, and (vii) predictive fuzzy control systems. The most interesting applications of fuzzy methodologies in manufacturing are those which utilize fuzzy variables and fuzzy logic control, allowing for a quantitative description of many variables which are qualitative in nature. These manufacturing variables can be broadly categorized as follows: (i) part features, (ii) utilization of space and machines, (iii) material handling costs, (iv) setup costs, (v) compactness of group and machine cells, (vi) processing times, (vii) due dates, (viii) range of robot motions, (ix) production costs, and (x) inventory levels.