Simulation modeling and analysis of tool sharing and part scheduling decisions in single-stage multimachine flexible manufacturing systems

This paper focuses on a simulation-based study of tool sharing problem in single-stage multimachine Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Three different scenarios are considered for investigation. A simulation model has been developed for each of these scenarios. A number of scheduling rules are incorporated in the simulation models for the decisions such as tool request selection and part launching in the context of tool sharing environment. The performance measures evaluated are mean tardiness, conditional mean tardiness and mean flow time. Based on the analysis of the simulation results, the best possible scheduling rule combinations for part launching and tool request selection have been identified for the three scenarios.