Comparative assessment of flexible manufacturing systems using the EDAS and Shannon entropy method

As global competition intensifies, most manufacturing companies strive to improve their production methods to gain a competitive edge. One such advancement is the adoption of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS), which enable the efficient production of various products in specified quantities with minimal lead times. These systems offer adaptability and efficiency, allowing manufacturers to leverage modern technologies to improve operational performance. However, evaluating or selecting an appropriate FMS involves considering numerous conflicting criteria. To address this complexity, Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods are employed. This study conducts a comparative evaluation of eight FMS alternatives using the Evaluation based on the Distance from the Average Solution (EDAS) method, integrated with Shannon Entropy for objective weight determination. Key performance indicators, including production cost, system flexibility, energy efficiency, and operational reliability, are used in the assessment. The Shannon Entropy method ensures unbiased, data-driven weight assignment, while the EDAS method provides a robust framework for ranking alternatives based on their deviation from an average solution. To test the robustness of the ranking, we compared the ranking with other MCDM methods and also conducted a sensitivity analysis using equal weighting criteria. We found that the first and last rankings remained unchanged when we changed the criteria, although there were slight changes in the rankings of some alternatives. The findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating EDAS with Shannon Entropy in selecting the best flexible manufacturing systems, offering valuable insights for manufacturers and decision-makers.