A multiplicity of factors including technological innovations, dynamic operating environments, and globalisation are all believed to contribute towards the ever-increasing complexity of manufacturing systems. Although
complexity is necessary to meet functional needs, it is important to assess and monitor it to reduce life-cycle
costs by simplifying designs and minimising failure modes. This research paper identifies and describes two
key industrially relevant methods for assessing complexity, namely a data-centric approach using the information theoretic method and a human-centric approach based on surveys and questionnaires. The paper goes on
to describe the benefits and shortcomings of each and contributes to the body of knowledge by proposing a
holistic framework that combines both assessment methods
