Title: A simulation-based multi-objective optimisation approach in flexible manufacturing system planning

Authors: Arash Apornak; Sadigh Raissi; Mehrdad Javadi; Neda Ahmadizadeh-Tourzani; Ahmad Kazem

Addresses: School of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran ' School of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran ' School of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tafresh, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tafresh, Iran

Abstract: In this paper, an attempt has been made to address the optimum set of queues capacity, queues discipline, conveyors and transporter's speed and operational setup times in a common flexible manufacturing system (FMS) with objectives of minimisation of average stay time in queues and maximisation of throughput simultaneously. Analysis of such issues, especially when the objective functions cannot be described in mathematical terms is a complex task is focused in this paper. Here the mean of five objective functions estimated by fitness functions extracted experimentally using 36 scenarios on a valid computer simulation model. Under equal weights, the exact solution attained by the Lingo software and optimum process setting was achieved. The applicability of the new approach is ascertained through a case study involving the optimisation of real engineering system and presented using the proposed approach.

Keywords: design of experiment; DOE; response surface modelling; RSM; multi-objective optimisation problem; MOP; flexible manufacturing system; FMS; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2018.094269

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2018 Vol.29 No.4, pp.494 - 506

Received: 08 Dec 2015
Accepted: 09 Aug 2016
Published online: 26 Aug 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article