Using SLAM to design the material handling system of a flexible manufacturing system

Abstract

The material handling system of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS)consists of load and unload mechanisms, transfer mechanisms, and internal storage facilities, each of which may be configured in many different ways. In addition, many options are available for dispatching work-parts between work-stations. The inherent flexibility of an FMS affords the opportunity for enhanced system efficiency, yet it also makes the analysis and design of the system extraordinarily complex and difficult. This paper develops a combined process interaction-discrete event simulation model to analyse the material handling and dispatching system of an FMS. The model is implemented in SLAM (Simulation Language for Alternative Modeling)The SLAM model is applied to an example FMS and is shown to be an effective tool for designing the material handling system and for selecting the appropriate work-part dispatching option. It provides greater flexibility in both modelling and output analysis than conventional process interaction simulation based on Q-GERT or GPSS and in consequence it may be used to enhance.significantly the efficiency of flexible manufacturing systems.