Analysis of operating policies for manufacturing cells

Abstract

We present an analytical model for error-recovery problems of unitary production cells and develop a framework for economic justification. Each production cell has its own machine and functional characteristics (e.g. precision, speed, operating cost). Each alternative operating policy of error-recovery for a production cell leads to a different system throughput, scrap rate, and required quantities of parts. However, error recovery cannot be accomplished without in-process inspections. Thus, the central problem discussed in this paper is to maximize profits or throughput rate by selecting an appropriate production cell along with an optimal set of inspection and error recovery policies.