Title: Two-machine reentrant circular robotic cells with swap ability

Authors: Ali Khebouche; Mourad Boudhar

Addresses: Faculty of Mathematics, RECITS Laboratory, USTHB University, BP 32 Bab-Ezzouar, El-Alia 16111, Algiers, Algeria ' Faculty of Mathematics, RECITS Laboratory, USTHB University, BP 32 Bab-Ezzouar, El-Alia 16111, Algiers, Algeria

Abstract: We consider a robotic cell consisting of two machines placed circularly and a robot with swap ability, operating under the constraint of a reentrant chain where a processed part must return to the first machine. The objective is to determine the optimal cycle time for one unit to maximise throughput. We conducted an in-depth analysis of two-machine robot cells in unbalanced cases. We developed cycle time formulas for the six feasible one-unit cycles and found that three of these cycles outperformed the other three. We then determined the parameter regions in which each of the three cycles was optimal. Our study offers insights to improve reentrant robot cell efficiency and management recommendations for utilising the robot with swap ability.

Keywords: scheduling robotic cells; throughput optimisation; chain-reentrant; circular layout; cyclic production; one-unit cycle; flow-shop.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCSM.2024.137825

International Journal of Computing Science and Mathematics, 2024 Vol.19 No.3, pp.221 - 231

Received: 28 Jul 2022
Accepted: 27 Jun 2023
Published online: 05 Apr 2024 *

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