Production system selection for the agile manufacturing of modularly designed products

This paper provides insight into a selection method for production systems from amongst competing alternatives having varying degrees of tangible and intangible advantages and benefits. The specific production system characteristics investigated in this study are for discrete and modularly designed products: products that are designed in such a way that they can be manufactured in modules and thus support the strategy of mass customisation. These products and characteristics are core dimensions and aspects for successful agile manufacturing environment implementations. The decision environment is limited to in-family variations in the products. The Analytical Network Process (ANP) is the methodological approach applied for the production system selection.