Abstract
In this article, a generalized stochastic Petri net model is developed to analyze the performance of a multimachine flexible manufacturing cell. The analyzed flexible manufacturing cell consists of one or more machine(s), a single conveyor, and a single robot. The conveyor transfers similar workpieces to the robot areas. Then, the robot loads parts onto the machines, which perform similar machining processes. The machines are subject to failure after a certain time due to tool wear or resetting. When a machine is in failure, a repair action is taken by the flexible manufacturing cell operator. A generalized stochastic Petri net model is constructed for a single-machine and three-machine flexible manufacturing cells, after which the suggested generalized stochastic Petri net model can be generalized to a flexible manufacturing cell with n machines. The obtained results provide an estimate of machine, robot, and operator utilization and production rates for the considered flexible manufacturing cell. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to illustrate the effect of the input parameters on the selected performance measures. The suggested model is tested using numerical examples and simulated using TimeNet tool.
Highlights
Date received: 24 March 2016; accepted: 29 August 2016 Academic Editor: Ramoshweu Lebelo. Automated manufacturing systems such as flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) always consist of a limited number of resources such as robots, machines, buffers, and automated guided vehicles, which are shared by various production processes in the systems.[1]
There is a continuous trend for adapting such automated systems, which involve a collection of different numerically controlled machines, automated handling system, and computers that control the whole system. It usually exhibits a high degree of resource sharing in order to increase flexibility such that manufacturers can respond to production changes quickly
Since FMSs are usually expensive to implement, currently, the trend in an FMS is toward small versions of FMSs, called flexible manufacturing cells (FMCs)
Summary
Automated manufacturing systems such as flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) always consist of a limited number of resources such as robots, machines, buffers, and automated guided vehicles, which are shared by various production processes in the systems.[1]. The plots illustrate that higher machine utilization is associated with high robot loading rate, high conveyor delivery rate, and low processing rate.
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