Research Initiation: Complexity in Manufacturing Systems --Impact on Design, Operations, and System Performance

本研究解决了以多个子系统集成为特征的制造系统中决策困难或复杂的问题。提出的研究的基本前提是，制造中多种功能和元素的集成增加了系统的复杂性或对系统做出决策的难度。具体而言，研究将定义复杂性，建立度量复杂性的度量标准，研究设计和控制参数与复杂性之间的关系，并提出控制复杂性的方法。本文的研究结果将有助于进一步了解集成对制造系统决策难度的影响。此外，随着系统复杂性的变化而做出的决策的质量可以被分析，并且可能具有附加的置信度。提高对集成对制造复杂性影响的理解，可以更好地对制造系统进行建模和分析。

9410078 Deshmukh This research addresses the problem of decision making difficulty or complexity in a manufacturing system characterized by the integration of several subsystems. The underlying premise to the proposed study is that integration of multiple functions and elements in manufacturing increases a system's complexity or the difficulty of making decisions regarding the system. Specifically, the research will define complexity, establish metrics for measuring complexity, study the relationship between design and control parameters and complexity, and suggest methods for controlling complexity. The outcome of the research will improve the understanding of the effects of integration on decision making difficulty in manufacturing systems. Furthermore, the quality of decisions made as the complexity of a system changes can be analyzed and perhaps, have confidence levels attached to them. Improved understanding of the effect of integration on manufacturing complexity can lead to better modeling and analysis of manufacturing systems.