Optimum Efficiency of U-shaped Flexible Production Line

Abstract

This paper discusses the optimum efficiency of a U-shaped flexible production line (U-FPL) and the relationship between the efficiency and cycle time of a U-FPL. In the literature, few researches have been done in this area. However, designing a U-FPL scheme, many designers decrease the cycle time of a U-FPL to increase its productivity and overlook the efficiency of a U-FPL. Thus it causes the increasing of equipment costs. This paper describes a model of the U-FPL that can present most U-FPLs and deduces an equation to calculate the efficiency of a U-FPL. From analyzing the equation, the optimum efficiency of a U-FPL and several rules for guiding the design of a U-FPL scheme are obtained