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Scheduling Multiple Parts in a Robotic Cell Served by a Dual-Gripper Robot

Author

Listed:
  • Chelliah Sriskandarajah

    (The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, 75083)

  • Inna Drobouchevitch

    (Hitron Systems Inc., Anseong City, Kyungki-Do, Korea (456-881))

  • Suresh P. Sethi

    (The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, 75083)

  • Ramaswamy Chandrasekaran

    (The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, 75083)

Abstract

A robotic cell---a manufacturing system widely used in industry---contains two or more robot-served machines, repetitively producing a number of part types. In this paper, we consider scheduling of operations in a bufferless dual-gripper robotic cell processing multiple part types. The processing constraints specify the cell to be a flowshop. The objective is to determine the robot move sequence and the sequence in which parts are to be processed so as to maximize the long-run average throughput rate for repetitive production of parts. We provide a framework to study the problem, and address the issues of problem complexity and solvability. Focusing on a particular class of robot move sequences, we identify all potentially optimal robot move sequences for the part-sequencing problem in a two-machine dual-gripper robot cell. In the case when the gripper switching time is sufficiently small, we specify the best robot move sequence in the class. We prove the problem of finding an optimal part sequence to be strongly NP-hard, even when the robot move sequence is specified. We provide a heuristic approach to solve the general two-machine problem and evaluate its performance on the set of randomly generated problem instances. We perform computations to estimate the productivity gain of using a dual-gripper robot in place of a single-gripper robot. Finally, we extend our results for the two-machine cell to solve an m -machine problem.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:52:y:2004:i:1:p:65-82
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1030.0073
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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. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Nicholas Hall & Chelliah Sriskandarajah & Tharmarajah Ganesharajah, 2001. "Operational Decisions in AGV-Served Flowshop Loops: Scheduling," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 107(1), pages 161-188, October.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Nicholas Hall & Chelliah Sriskandarajah & Tharmarajah Ganesharajah, 2001. "Operational Decisions in AGV-Served Flowshop Loops: Fleet Sizing and Decomposition," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 107(1), pages 189-209, October.
    8. 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.
    9. Crama, Yves, 1997. "Combinatorial optimization models for production scheduling in automated manufacturing systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 136-153, May.
    10. 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.
    11. Yves Crama & Joris van de Klundert, 1997. "Cyclic Scheduling of Identical Parts in a Robotic Cell," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 45(6), pages 952-965, December.
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    1. Bagchi, Tapan P. & Gupta, Jatinder N.D. & Sriskandarajah, Chelliah, 2006. "A review of TSP based approaches for flowshop scheduling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 169(3), pages 816-854, March.
    2. Neil Geismar, H. & Dawande, Milind & Sriskandarajah, Chelliah, 2005. "Approximation algorithms for k-unit cyclic solutions in robotic cells," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(2), pages 291-309, April.
    3. 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.
    4. Milind Dawande & Michael Pinedo & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 2009. "Multiple Part-Type Production in Robotic Cells: Equivalence of Two Real-World Models," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 11(2), pages 210-228, February.
    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. Tharanga Rajapakshe & Milind Dawande & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 2011. "Quantifying the Impact of Layout on Productivity: An Analysis from Robotic-Cell Manufacturing," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 59(2), pages 440-454, April.

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