Computerized Closed Queuing Network Models of Flexible Manufacturing Systems: A Comparative Evaluation

Several closed queueing network models are available for stochastic performance evaluation of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS). These models are particularly useful during the planning and design phases of FMS, since they can be applied to study gross tradeoffs between principal design parameters. This paper reviews and analyzes several computerized models for evaluating complex FMS facilities with respect to the desired allocation of the following key resources: manufacturing centers, transporters, pallets and tools. It focuses on such issues as the structure of the mathematical system models, the variety of performance measures (model outputs), model inputs, accuracy of results and computational effort. In addition, some alternatives to overcome part of the common limitations of the models are suggested and tested empirically