Steady state scheduling of a flexible manufacturing system with periodic releasing and flow time constraints

Abstract

This paper deals with the dynamic behaviour of an FMS when parts are released periodically. The minimal release period is induced by the most critical machine or fixture pallet type. Moreover, with a fixed period, the limited number of available pallets induces a maximal flow time for every part type. Thus, the objective of this paper is to determine a part release strategy and an activity schedule on every machine which allows to control every part flow time for steady state. An analysis method for this objective is presented in this paper. Its purpose is to obtain releasing and scheduling conditions ensuring a workshop steady state compatible with the considered constraints, especially part flow times. This method is based on the resolution of conflicts between activities processed on a common machine. This resolution uses limit times associated with each activity and it can modify these limit times. These modifications in turn can induce modifications for other activity limit times due to part routing, steady-state periodicity, and part flow time constraints. Thus, an iterative procedure has been defined. It refines steady-state feasibility conditions through limit times and sequencing conditions of activities processed on a common machine. The method is illustrated with two examples.