Title: Ranking of scheduling rule combinations in a flexible manufacturing system using preference selection index method

Authors: O.A. Joseph, R. Sridharan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, KMCT College of Engineering, Kalanthode-673601, Manassery, Calicut, Kerala, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, NIT Campus P.O., Calicut 673-601, Kerala, India

Abstract: This paper focuses on scheduling decision problems of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) using simulation modelling and analysis. A typical FMS configuration is considered for the study. A discrete-event simulation model is developed for the purpose of experimentation. In this study, various scheduling rules are used for the decisions such as part launching, part routing and part sequencing. The performance of the system is evaluated using the measures such as mean flow time, mean tardiness, percentage of tardy parts, mean utilisation of machines and mean work-in-process. Based on the overall performance score, the combinations of scheduling rules for part launching, part routing and part sequencing decisions are ranked using the preference selection index method.

Keywords: flexible manufacturing system; FMS scheduling; simulation; scheduling rules; preference selection index; PSI; modelling; part launching; part routing; part sequencing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2011.042141

International Journal of Advanced Operations Management, 2011 Vol.3 No.2, pp.201 - 216

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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