A unified framework of manufacturing systems design

Aims to set systems thinking into the context of manufacturing systems management (MSM), which is defined as a functional domain that involves the necessary activities such as design, implementation, operations and monitoring, needed to regulate and optimise a manufacturing system as it progresses through its life cycle. Based on a number of key principles of systems theory, results from an extensive analysis of the relevant methodologies and techniques, and data gathered through industrial practice, a conceptual MSM framework is proposed. This framework specifies the key functional areas of MSM, outlines the contents and relationships within them, and then logically integrates these into a closed loop to provide the basis for the development of a set of consistent parameters and procedures. Its aim is to help achieve understanding of the problem domain, and to provide guidance for the development of effective mechanisms and tools for future MSM activities. A number of cases to illustrate its industrial application are also presented.