Throughput optimisation in reentrant circular regular robot cells Online publication date: Mon, 02-Oct-2023
by Ali Khebouche; Mourad Boudhar; El-Sedik Lamini
International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research (IJMOR), Vol. 26, No. 1, 2023
Abstract: We consider robot cells of type reentrant circular flow shop served by a single-gripper central robot having the ability to swap. The objective is to find a cyclic sequence of robot moves that minimises the cycle time of one-unit required to produce a part or, equivalently, that maximises the throughput. We analysed three-machine robot cells in-depth showing that four of the feasible one-unit cycles dominate the remaining 17 cycles. We determined the parameter regions in which each of the four cycles is optimal. In the case of m machines, we gave two new lower bounds with an emphasis on four cycles that are specific among all one-unit cycles. Initially, cycle time formulas are created for the four cycles of one-unit. In addition, we established the parameter regions where each of the cycles is best. Finally, we showed that a specific cycle provides a 3/2-approximation for the remaining unique region.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research (IJMOR):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook