A decision support model for the initial design of FMS

This study proposes a decision support model for the design and evaluation of FMS. The model optimizes the profit by analyzing the interaction between candidate part types and FMS configuration under the constraints of production requirement and cost effectiveness. The model is solved by using the closed queueing network model and optimization model iteratively. The throughput of current FMS configuration is evaluated by the closed queueing network model, and then its results are fed to the optimization model for the selection of best combination of part types and production resources. The resulting solution gives answers to a series of decision problems at the initial design stage of FMS. An example problem is presented to show the superiority of the proposed approach. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.