A simulation study of part sequencing in a flexible assembly cell

Abstract

A discrete modular simulation program has been developed for the assessment of real-time part-sequencing systems for flexible assembly cells. The program is used with different sequencing strategies to study the cell performance and decision lead time.

A combined index is used as a measure of the cell performance. The index is a function of throughput, throughput time and cell utilization. Time response of the part-sequencing rule is assessed by a decision lead-time index which is a function of the average computation time required by the computer module to generate a decision.