Simulation study of decision delays in manufacturing systems using Taguchi methods

Abstract

Online control strategies employed in the manufacturing systems involve decisions that may entail significant time delays depending on the level of computerization in the shop floor. We refer to these delays as decision delays when they cause delays in decision processing and implementation. In the domain of discrete part manufacturing systems with defined levels of flexibility, it is essential to explicitly model and analyze the effect that decision delays have on the performance of a given online control strategy. In this paper we present a simulation study of a manufacturing system and a study performed under the Taguchi methods. The aim was to identify the contribution of various factors, including the decision delays, in a manufacturing system. The results indicate that the relative contribution of decision delay on makespan performance is maximum. Further the relative contribution of other factors such as routing flexibility and control strategy decreases as the delays increase. Thus to avail the benefit of increased routing flexibility it is useful to contain the delays.