A decision analysis based system for formulating manufacturing strategy

Although a substantial number of decision and management science models of production management decisions have been developed, these models have not generally addressed the strategic framework of manufacturing, considered as an integrated pattern of decisions. They have usually been concerned with only one aspect of manufacturing strategy such as capacity or technology choice and have framed that choice using a single dimension of value such as cost. This study develops a comprehensive decision analysis model base which can be implemented as a DSS, to gain insight about the broader manufacturing strategy set. Decision trees, influence diagrams, Monte Carlo risk analysis and multiple criteria utility functions can contribute to a better understanding of and to decision support for manufacturing strategy formulation.