This paper proposes the application of Meta-Learning Evolutionary Artificial Neural Network (MLEANN) in selecting flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) from a group of candidate FMS's. First, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology using an improved S-shaped membership function has been developed for finding out the 'best candidate FMS alternative' from a set of candidate-FMSs. The MCDM model trade-offs among various parameters, namely, design parameters, economic considerations, etc., affecting the FMS selection process in multi-criteria decision-making environment. Genetic algorithm is used to evolve the architecture and weights of the proposed neural network method. Further, a back-propagation (BP) algorithm is used as the local search algorithm. The selection of FMS is made according to the error output of the results found from the MCDM model. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.