MODEL STRUCTURE AND SOLUTION PROCEDURES FOR VARIABLE SUBLOTS OF A SINGLE PRODUCT IN A FLOW SHOP

ABSTRACT

Variable sublot models have received a lot of attentions [4,23]. In this research, a model structure for variable sublots is proposed and analyzed for a single product in a multi-stage flow shop environment. The structure contains three issues as follows: (1)Determine transferring machines, (2)Determine the corresponding reallocated lot streaming ranges, and (3)Determine the optimal lot streaming. Based on the three issues mentioned above, optimal lot streaming is discussed. For computational efficiency, a heuristic solution procedure for the variable lot streaming is proposed. The proposed heuristic procedure is tested and evaluated via simulation. The results show that this heuristic procedure is better than other existing variable lot streaming procedures.

Keywords:

• flow shop
• variable sublots
• lot streaming
• lot splitting
• heuristic solutions