Effect of workstation loading on the objective of the systems’s entry policy in FMS

This paper attempts to reveal the interrelationships between the workstation loading and system entry policies and in particular to investigate the adverse or positive effects of workstation loading on the objective which the entry policy is trying to achieve. This analysis is made through a computer simulation study of an existing flexible assembly plant for printed circuit boards. Dynamic performance indicators are defined and are shown to be crucial in revealing the effect of workstation loading. The analysis of the simulation results shows that in general, the workstation policy is beneficial when it takes into account an important local system parameter which is not considered by the entry policy, and furthermore, when it is able to attain at least the value of the dynamic performance indicator dictated by system entry policy.