Application of group scheduling heuristics to the demand-driven flexible flow system

Abstract

A flexible flow system (FFS) is a dedicated flexible manufacturing system where the routing of parts is unidirectional. Most scheduling research on FFSs has been studied using traditional single-stage rules. This study investigates the performance of various group scheduling heuristics in a realistic FFS that produces parts in response to customer orders. Group scheduling heuristics are two-stage heuristic procedures that attempt to serially process similar jobs and eliminate major setups. The heuristics arc used to determine the order input sequence at the load station in the FFS. The influences of three experimental factors (i.e., mean interarrival time, allowance level, and mean setup time) on the performance of group scheduling heuristics are examined. The best performing heuristics with resped to each measure under each experimental condition are identified which can provide guidance for schedulers in the selection of preferable heuristics for FFSs.

摘要

彈性流程系統是弾性製造系統的一種，在此系統中所有工件的途程遒循單一的方向。大部份有關彈性流程系統之排程研究是採用單一階段的徘程規則。本研究使用電腦摸擬爲工具，以探討各種群組排程啓發式規則應用於彈性流程系統之縝效。而此系統係在訂貨生產環境下運作。群組排程啓發式規則是屬於二階段的排程規則，它係利用群組技術來訂排程，以減少設置時間。本文探討了三種工埸因素（訂單平均抵達間隔時間、交貨期寬裕度、平均設置時間）對於排程規則之影饗。本文同時以表列出在不同工場情況與不同衡量下之最佳排程規則，以作爲排程決策之準則。

Key Words:

• group scheduling heuristics
• flexible flow systems
• computer simulation

關鍵詞:

• 群組排程啓發式規則
• 彈性流程系統
• 電腦摸擬