Fuzzy Cognitive Map Based Machining Process Planning Decision Analysis

Modeling of large systems requires high level of expertise to properly identify and represent complex interrelationships between various elements. In addition to creation of a network of system’s elements and their relationships, very important contribution to understanding of its behavior we can get from human experts. Naturally, humans express their experience and beliefs descriptively, emphasizing causal relationship between elements, and also descriptively (linguistically) evaluating their parameters’ values instead of precisely doing it. Upon this basis we can use a graphical approach to model a system and capture related knowledge. Such approach picture cause and effect relations creating system’s (fuzzy) cognitive map (F)CM. In this paper we present a part of results gathered during research work on fuzzy cognitive maps application in the machining process planning decision analysis. We apply negative-positive-neutral logic based approach to analyze a real industrial problem, namely, what-if problem of low surface quality. Finally we have pointed out the main directions of further research.