彈性製造系統算是目前生產線較常採用的方式，但是也較為複雜。當中的群組技術運用在機台分群上可以算是很重要的關鍵因素，而一般學者研究的分群演算法，大多都是以達成目標最佳化的結果為其績效指標，因而只計算出最後最佳的分群。但是加入其他工件之後，對機台的關連度產生變化卻沒有進一步的探討，最多只是重新去計算結果。本研究擬透過社會網路分析法，按照機台之間關係之變化來決定是否需要重新分群。
　 本研究之主要目的是運用在一已分群之彈性製造系統在加工的過程中，當加入工件時可以藉由產生的記錄檔，再透過社會網路分析法找出各機台的關係圖，接著考慮轉換成係數矩陣形式，給定各機台的分群方法，並且根據主要的指標值作為判斷的依據，以求能有效地找出是否會影響原本的分群狀態。進而能夠提供是否需要重新分群的判斷依據。

　　Machine grouping can be regarded as a very key factor to improve the efficiency of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). However, most of the grouping approach tends to focus on the relations among the machines having direct interaction. This research tends to apply social network (SN) approach, which analyzed the machine relation based on both the direct and indirect relationships.
　　By using the log file of a FMS, this approach found out the relation of each machine through the process history of the system. The generated SN coefficient would be transferred to a matrix for further grouping. Five grouping models were developed and their efficiency was compared through several evaluation factors. The evaluation results showed that the machine grouping in terms of SN approach can perform better than the traditional methods in process efficiency.

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