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PurposeTo develop a decision framework for the planning and development of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS).Design/methodology/approachA systematic weighted property index approach for FMS development decisions is developed to evaluate various design options. This methodology converts design property values of differing orders of magnitude into a unitless system where an overall evaluation of the options can be made.FindingsMajor design choices related to the implementation of an educational FMS are identified, and considerations affecting each choice are discussed. A methodology for the selection of the appropriate FMS is then developed and demonstrated.Practical implicationsProvides a useful framework for evaluating various options in FMS development and selecting an appropriate system for a given environment and situation.Originality/valueIdentifies the major design choices related to the implementation of an educational FMS, provides practical examples taken from the development of FMSs at Southwest Missouri State University and the University of Missouri‐Rolla, and presents a systematic methodology for FMS design decision making.

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