Economical design of material flow paths

Abstract

In this paper, we suggest a branch-and-bound procedure for designing flow paths of fixed-path material handling systems. The method may be applied to automated monorail systems (AMS), automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS), flexible conveyor systems and other fixed-path material handling systems. We formulate an economic model which considers the construction cost of each path segment as well as the travel cost. A procedure is developed to determine the configuration of flow path and the direction of each flow path segment. A tight lower bound for the optimal objective function and an efficient search strategy are suggested. Computational performance of this procedure is compared with a procedure previously developed by Kaspi and Tanchoco for the special case of AGV systems.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

KAP HWAN KIM

Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering, Pusan National University, Changjeon-dong, Kumjeong-ku, Pusan 609-735, Korea, Visiting Scholar at Purdue University, 1990-1991

J. M. A. TANCHOCO

Address correspondence to: J. M. A. Tanchoco, Professor of Industrial Engineering.