Stochastic modelling and comparisons of two flexible manufacturing cells with single and double gripper robots

Abstract

A stochastic model is presented for calculating the performance measures of a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) which operates under stochastic environment and produces a variety of parts by utilizing a flexible production machine and a single or a double gripper robot for machine loading and unloading operations. The FMC is served by a pallet handling system which delivers blanks into the cell and moves finished parts out of the cell. By using the proposed model, an FMC utilizing a double gripper robot is compared with an FMC utilizing a single gripper robot. Comparisons which were based on cell performance measures, namely, production rate, machine utilization, robot utilization and pallet handling system utilization, show that use of a double gripper robot results in a substantial improvement in cell performance measures over a single gripper robot. The stochastic model developed in this study can be used to evaluate an FMC operating under different operational conditions.