Analysis of the Flow-Type Manufacturing Systems Using the Cyclic Queuing Theory

Abstract

A stochastic mathematical model was built and solved by using cyclic queuing theory for the multistage flow-type automated manufacturing system which is composed of several automated machine tools, movable pallets, transfer lines, and workpiece loading/unloading equipment, in an attempt to investigate the system’s behaviors such as production rate of a machine utilized in each stage, production rate of the system, mean number of waiting pallets at each stage, mean number of in-process inventories in each stage, and cycle time of a pallet. In case of limited space for in-process inventory at each stage, it was found that there exists the optimal number of pallets on the transfer line to maximize production rate. In addition, the computational procedures for analyzing the automated manufacturing system were developed and used to solve typical examples of the automated manufacturing system.