Analyzing the Relationship among Humanized Flexible Manufacturing System (HFMS) Enablers in Auto Manufacturing Industries using Fuzzy Cognitive Map

This study aimed to analyze the relationship among Humanized Flexible Manufacturing System (HFMS) enablers in auto-manufacturing Industries using the Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) approach. The theoretical foundation of the study was set and consolidated through a comprehensive literature review and based on views from 10 experts in Iran auto-manufacturing companies. The research population comprised 20 auto-manufacturing industry experts familiar with the HFMS system and 320 employees at car manufacturing companies including Iran Khodro, Pars, and Zagros, Saipa, Kerman, Bahman and Modiran Khodro companies. A sample of 10 from the experts and 174 from the employees were randomly selected using Cochran Formula. The relationship among the HFMS system enablers was investigated by analyzing verbal tags in the form of FCM. The findings revealed that the most important flexible HFMS system enablers comprised employees’ commitment, availability of trained personnel, top management involvement and commitment, effective long-term planning, sound favourable financial condition, reduced maintenance cost, organizational work culture, employees’ satisfaction, provision of incentives and rewards and operational and control techniques. The findings underscore the key role of human factor in the FMS and signify the need for developing a road map in car-manufacturing companies that can be employed to prevent the loss of resources including human resources and updat the company’s objectives and perspectives in the strategic planning process.