A new application of multi-criteria decision-making methods for the scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems: A case study

. With the growing use of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs), it became more important to optimize them. Scheduling is one of the critical problems in FMS optimization. This study presents a new application of multi-criterion decision-making (MCDM) methods for scheduling problems of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Designation of AGVs to job shops is the major concern of this study. The research methodology consists of two steps. We first identify the criteria for finding the importance of jobs and then apply several MCDM methods (i.e., TOPSIS, VIKOR, and PROMRTHEE) to assign AGVs to the jobs. At last, we highlight the scheduling plan for AGVs using the mathematical formulation. This paper can bring some managerial insights not only for those who use an FMS but also for anyone who is working in the field of smart management. By the scrutiny, we highlight that the travel distance is significantly correlated with utilities. In other words, the more important are the jobs, the less distance is between jobs and AGVs. The findings support the minimization premise of the travel by AGVs and utility maximization of sending AGVs to the jobs simultaneously. This is achieved through assignment of two AGVs to seven jobs for multiple periods.