Flexible Manufacturing

WB07.1 Batching for Mixed Model Production Lines Nico Vandaele, Carlos Ocampo y Vilas --- Univ. of Antwerp, UFSIA-TEW, Prinsstraat 13, Antwerp, 2000 , Belgium (nico.vandaele@ufsia.ac.be)

We use an approximate queueing network model to analyze mixed model¨ production lines. The objective is to decide on the batch size in¨ order to minimize average product lead times. Effects studied¨ include: setup times, product mix, capacity changes, demand¨ fluctuations, uncertainty reduction, line (un)balancing, line length¨ and product heterogeneity.

WB07.2 An Expert System for Designing Flexible Manufacturing Systems H. Felix Lee --- Southern IL Univ., IE Dept., Box 1805, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1805, (hflee@siue.edu)

We present a rule-based expert system that assists FMS designers in¨ determining key resource parameters for FMSs. This expert system¨ uses simulation to evaluate particular FMS designs and suggests¨ recommendations for improving them. The system is user-friendly,¨ automatically generates simulation codes and make iterations easy.

WB07.3 Operations Sequence-Based Cell Formation for Multi-Product Flow Line Yi Xu, Bhaba R. Sarker, Zhiqiang Li --- LA State Univ., Dept. of IE, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 , (xuyi@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu)

Operations sequence plays an important rule in the WIP movement in a¨ manufacturing cell. The operation sequence-based part family for a¨ cell has an overwhelming influence on the grouping of machines. A¨ heuristic procedure is developed to minimize cost incurred due to¨ the WIP movement and machine investment.

WB07.4 Cell Formation with Alternative Routings for Multiple Products Zhiqiang Li, Bhaba R. Sarker, Yi Xu --- LA State Univ., Dept. of IE, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 , (zli@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu)

Jobs with alternative routings may cost differently depending on¨ the routes and machine cells. A routing coefficient depending on the¨ operations sequences is developed to form machine cells for¨ processing multiple products with alternative routings. Results are¨ demonstrated to compare with the traditional approaches.

WB07.5 Engineering-Economics of Health Care Technology Arun Kumar, Zhongxian Wang, Qiyang Chen --- Montclair State Univ., Info. & Dec. Sci. Dept., Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 , (kumara@saturn.montclair.edu)

Health care represents a major sector of the GNP and is very much¨ technology driven. This presentation focuses on a large variety of¨ health care technologies. Engineering economy evaluates the monetary¨ consequences of the health care technology and makes decisions by¨ balancing expenses and revenues that occur now and in the future.