Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM) of the Enablers of a Flexible Control System for Industry

Abstract: The incumbent trend in process industry is to deploy information and communication technology (ICT), enabled wired process control systems. Distributed control system, supervisory control and data acquisition systems with wireless open loop control systems are commonly used to facilitate the same. However, wireless closed loop control system is a flexible system, which is not yet been introduced in the process industry. The major theme of this research work is to model the enablers of implementing ICT enabled control system in the process industry based on their interrelationships, with the help of industrialists in an oil refinery in central Kerala. The relationships of enablers have been established effectively by interpretive structural modeling (ISM). However, the interpretation of links is comparatively weak in ISM. Qualitative criteria are often accompanied by obscurities and vagueness. To compensate for this, ISM is further modified by total ISM (TISM). TISM is a novel qualitative modeling technique that has been used by researchers in diverse fields of investigation. For this study, TISM is used to develop the performance model for the enablers of a flexible control system for industry. The structural model developed using this methodology helps to understand the interaction between the various elements of enablers. After the model is developed, it is further subjected to assessment by a different group of domain experts so as to enhance its validity. © 2014, Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management.