CRITICAL FACTORS IN INFORMATION-SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT FOR A FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM

The successful implementation of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is highly dependent upon the design and development of the system for information flow and control. The literature indicates that informati on systems are the primary source of problems in an FMS, but are the l east studied subsystem within an FMS. Based upon the case study of a s uccessful implementation of a fully automated FMS, six critical succes s factors (CSFs) were identified for information system development wi thin an FMS. These CSFs point to the importance of four issues: (1) si mplification and standardization, (2) communication, (3) team building , and (4) resource allocation. The FMS development process is describe d, and the six CSFs are compared to related findings in the literature on FMS implementation, project management, software design and factor y automation. The paper concludes by stating the implications for mana gement, system design and future research.