Using simulation in design of a cellular assembly plant with automatic guided vehicles

The effects of a large number of design and operational variables on the performance of a relatively complex cellular assembly system with automatic guided vehicles are analyzed. The techniques used in the design of automatic guided vehicle systems (AGVS) are classified into optimization techniques, mathematical heuristic techniques, and simulation techniques. Factors to be considered in an AGVS are classified into eight levels hierarchically, the highest level being the process focus and the lowest level being the schedule-related considerations. The operational variables studied include AGV and job dispatching rules and assembly time ratios between the mainline and subassembly processes. The study showed that effective use of transit paths in a track layout design may eliminate the differences among the scheduling rules. The most significant scheduling rule in increasing the throughput is the job request selection rule by an AGV for a design with a minimum number of transit paths