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Throughput optimization in robotic cells with input and output machine buffers: A comparative study of two key models

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  • Drobouchevitch, Inna G.
  • Neil Geismar, H.
  • Sriskandarajah, Chelliah

Abstract

We consider the problem of scheduling operations in a robotic cell processing a single part type. Each machine in the cell has a one-unit input buffer and a one-unit output buffer. The machines and buffers are served by one single gripper robot. The domain considered is free-pickup cells with additive inter-machine travel time. The processing constraints specify the cell to be a flow shop. The objective is to find a cyclic sequence of robot moves that minimizes the long-run average time to produce a part or, equivalently, maximizes throughput. Bufferless robotic cells have been studied extensively in the literature. However, the few studies of robotic cells with output buffers at each machine have shown that the throughput can be improved by such a configuration. We show that there is no throughput advantage in providing machine input buffers in addition to output buffers. The equivalence in throughput between the two models has significant practical implications, since the cost of providing additional buffers at each machine is substantial.

Suggested Citation

  • Drobouchevitch, Inna G. & Neil Geismar, H. & Sriskandarajah, Chelliah, 2010. "Throughput optimization in robotic cells with input and output machine buffers: A comparative study of two key models," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 206(3), pages 623-633, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:206:y:2010:i:3:p:623-633
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hichem Kamoun & Nicholas G. Hall & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 1999. "Scheduling in Robotic Cells: Heuristics and Cell Design," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 47(6), pages 821-835, December.
    2. Chelliah Sriskandarajah & Inna Drobouchevitch & Suresh P. Sethi & Ramaswamy Chandrasekaran, 2004. "Scheduling Multiple Parts in a Robotic Cell Served by a Dual-Gripper Robot," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 52(1), pages 65-82, February.
    3. Milind W. Dawande & H. Neil Geismar & Suresh P. Sethi & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 2007. "Throughput Optimization in Robotic Cells," International Series in Operations Research and Management Science, Springer, number 978-0-387-70988-8, December.
    4. Hall, Nicholas G. & Kamoun, Hichem & Sriskandarajah, Chelliah, 1998. "Scheduling in robotic cells: Complexity and steady state analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 109(1), pages 43-65, August.
    5. Drobouchevitch, Inna G. & Sethi, Suresh P. & Sriskandarajah, Chelliah, 2006. "Scheduling dual gripper robotic cell: One-unit cycles," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(2), pages 598-631, June.
    6. Nicholas G. Hall & Hichem Kamoun & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 1997. "Scheduling in Robotic Cells: Classification, Two and Three Machine Cells," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 45(3), pages 421-439, June.
    7. Chelliah Sriskandarajah & Nicholas Hall & Hichem Kamoun, 1998. "Scheduling large robotic cells without buffers," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 76(0), pages 287-321, January.
    8. Y. Crama & V. Kats & J. van de Klundert & E. Levner, 2000. "Cyclic scheduling in robotic flowshops," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 97-124, November.
    9. Che, Ada & Chu, Chengbin & Levner, Eugene, 2003. "A polynomial algorithm for 2-degree cyclic robot scheduling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(1), pages 31-44, February.
    10. Agnetis, A., 2000. "Scheduling no-wait robotic cells with two and three machines," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(2), pages 303-314, June.
    11. Levner, Eugene & Kats, Vladimir & Levit, Vadim E., 1997. "An improved algorithm for cyclic flowshop scheduling in a robotic cell," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(3), pages 500-508, March.
    12. Milind Dawande & H. Geismar & Michael Pinedo & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 2010. "Throughput optimization in dual-gripper interval robotic cells," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(1), pages 1-15.
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    1. Sun, Yige & Chung, Sai-Ho & Wen, Xin & Ma, Hoi-Lam, 2021. "Novel robotic job-shop scheduling models with deadlock and robot movement considerations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

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