Production rate of synchronous transfer lines using Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

In this paper, we consider unpaced synchronous transfer lines producing a single product. The transfer line stations are arranged in a series configuration, have no buffers, and are subject to operation-dependent failures. Throughput is an important performance measure for transfer lines, and we have adopted that measure. Analytical methods for determining capacity of such transfer lines are available only for the simplest systems, but we show Monte Carlo simulation to be a fast, flexible, easy, and accurate method of estimating throughput in lines of any length and having a wide range of operating characteristics.

Keywords:

• transfer lines
• Monte Carlo method
• simulation
• throughput
• effective process time