Performance Analysis of a Branched Production Line with Machine Breakdowns andProduct Failures

摘要

In this report a model will be presented that describes a buffer flow shop withlimited buffer capacities and with machines prone to failure. A failure can occur in manipulation of a product. A failure can also occur in the mechanism of the machine itself. An aim is to derive a model that deals with the probability of occurrence of both failures. A method that uses clusters of states in Markov chains has been described in a previous report. This report deals with a production line that has another special configuration called 'branched'. A branched production line is a production line in which at least one machine has more than one product part as an input and connected parts as output. An extension of the method for serial production lines to a simple 'branched' production in which only one machine has two input parts and one output part is described in this report. By means of this model it will be possible to approximate the stationary distribution of a branched stochastic flow shop and derive average values for throughput and buffer contents. This model can help optimizing the flow shop. Effects of extra or other machines and failure rates can be evaluated.