The GRAI approach to the structural design of flexible manufacturing systems

This paper is addressed to all persons interested in the structural design of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) but particularly to analysts who use simulation methods. The approach suggested consists of two procedures. The first is a progressive procedure which shows how to succeed in the design by starting with reasonable and feasible objectives, and then progress on the basis of experience. The second is a decomposition procedure which comprises methods guiding the following four design steps (a) activity structuring and problem understanding, (b) specification of simulation system, (c) resolution of formal problem solving and (d) implementation of the computational process.