Decision support system for multicriteria machine selection for flexible manufacturing systems

This paper begins by analysing decision making activities and information requirements at three organizational levels and the characteristics of expert systems (ESs) intended for the two different roles of supporting and replacing a decision maker. It goes on to review the evidence from many years of commercial use of ESs at different levels and in different roles, and to analyse the evidence obtained from a pilot experiment involving developing ESs to fulfil two different roles in the same domain. The research finds that ESs in a replacement role prove to be effective for operational and tactical decisions, but have limitations at the strategic level. ESs in a support role, as advisory systems, can help to make better decisions, but their effectiveness can only be fulfilled through their users. In the experiments, an expert advisory system did not save a user's time, contrary to the expectations of many of its users, but an ES in a replacement role did improve the efficiency of decision making. In addition, the knowledge bases of the ESs in the different roles need to be different. Finally, the practical implications of the experience gained from developing and testing two types of ESs are discussed.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1057%2Fpalgrave.ejis.3000344.pdf

An analysis of expert systems for business decision making at different levels and in different roles

A knowledge-based system for supporting performance measurement of AMT projects: a research agenda

This paper presents the findings based on a survey conducted to examine the status and extent of the use of computer‐based technology (CBT) to support “quality”, including such aspects as quality control, quality assurance and quality management, in Hong Kong. Five main categories of CBTs, namely decision support systems (DSSs), group support systems (GSSs), executive information systems (EISs), expert systems (ESs) and artificial neural networks (ANNs), in support of quality are surveyed. The survey findings indicate that CBT usage to support quality in Hong Kong is low, particularly ESs and ANNs. This is partly due to a lack of awareness regarding the potential of CBTs in supporting quality among their potential users, and partly because of a lack of availability of suitable software to support their use. This paper represents a first attempt to examine the real‐life use of CBTs in support of quality. Based on the research findings, we have identified several opportunities for further research and suggested a number of research directions for CBTs to support “quality”in practice.

A survey of applications of computer‐based technologies in support of quality

In order to maintain their competitiveness, companies feel compelled to adopt productivity increasing measures. Yet, they cannot relinquish the flexibility their production cycles need in order to improve their response, and thus, their positioning in the market. To achieve this, companies must combine these two seemingly opposed principles. Thanks to new technological advances, this combination is already a working reality in some companies. It is made possible today by the implementation of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, fundamentally by means of expert systems (ES) and robotics. Depending on how these (AI/CIM) techniques contribute to automation, their immediate effects are an increase in productivity and cost reductions. Yet also, the system's flexibility allows for easier adaptation and, as a result, an increased ability to generate value, in other words, competitiveness is improved. The authors have analyzed three studies to identify the possible benefits or advantages, as well as the inconveniences, that this type of technique may bring to companies, specifically in the production field. Although the scope of the studies and their approach differ from one to the other, their joint contribution can be of unquestionable value in order to understand a little better the importance of ES within the production system.

D. Bizruchak

Papers

Expert systems and production/operations management