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Discrete time model for two-machine one-buffer transfer lines with restart policy

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Abstract

The paper deals with analytical modeling of transfer lines consisting of two machines decoupled by one finite buffer. In particular, the case in which a control policy (referred as “restart policy”) aiming to reduce the blocking frequency of the first machine is addressed. Such a policy consists of forcing the first machine to remain idle (it cannot process parts) each time the buffer gets full until it empties again. This specific behavior can be found in a number of industrial production systems, especially when some machines are affected by outage costs when stops occur. The two-machine one-buffer line is here modeled as a discrete time Markov process and the two machines are characterized by the same operation time. The analytical solution of the model is obtained and mathematical expressions of the most important performance measures are provided. Some significant remarks about the effect of the proposed restart policy on the behavior of the system are also pointed out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze e Metodi dell’Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Amendola 2, Pad. Morselli, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Elisa Gebennini, Andrea Grassi & Cesare Fantuzzi

  2. Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Stanley B. Gershwin

  3. Division Department of Mathematics, Organization Istanbul Sehir University, Address Altunizade, Uskudar, Istanbul, 34662, Turkey

    Irvin Cemil Schick

Authors
  1. Elisa Gebennini
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  2. Andrea Grassi
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  3. Cesare Fantuzzi
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  4. Stanley B. Gershwin
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  5. Irvin Cemil Schick
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Correspondence to Elisa Gebennini.

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Gebennini, E., Grassi, A., Fantuzzi, C. et al. Discrete time model for two-machine one-buffer transfer lines with restart policy. Ann Oper Res 209, 41–65 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-011-0868-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-011-0868-5

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