Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to develop optimal tool partitioning policies and strip sequencing strategies for a class of flexible manufacturing problems. The problems under consideration involve a large number of operations to be performed by a series of tools on a two-dimensional object. For example, these operations could consist of drilling holes in a metallic sheet. Tools are arranged in a carousel or along a toolbar according to a predetermined sequence. Operations are performed by repeatedly moving the sheet to bring the hole locations under the tool. During each pass, as all operations involving a series of consecutive tools are executed, two main problems are to be solved: (1) how to move the sheet during each pass, (2) how to partition the tools into blocks of consecutive tools. A strip strategy is used to move the sheet. Given this policy, optimal strip widths and tool partitioning policies are determined jointly. Analytical solutions are derived under two metrics corresponding to different operating modes. A numerical example is provided.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmadi, J., Grotzinger, S., and Johnson, D., “Emulating Concurrency in a Circuit Card Assembly System,” International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 45–70 (1991).
Chauny, F., “Études sur l'optimisation du fonctionnement d'une cellule flexible,” Ph.D. thesis, École Polytechnique de Montréal (1991).
Daganzo, C.F., “The Length of Tours in Zones of Different Shapes,” Transportation Research B, Vol. 18B, No. 2, pp. 135–145 (1984).
Gaboune, B., Laporte, G., and Soumis, F., “Optimal Tool Partitioning Rules for Numerically Controlled Punch Press Operations,” RAIRO (Recherche Opérationnelle), Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 209–220 (1994a).
Gaboune, B., Laporte, G., and Soumis, F., “Optimal Strip Sequencing Strategies for Flexible Manufacturing Operations in Two or Three Dimensions,” International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 123–135 (1994b).
Groover, M.P., Automation Production Systems and Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1987).
Laporte, G., Lopes, L., and Soumis, F., “Optimal Sequencing Rules for Some Large Scale Flexible Manufacturing Problems Under Four Different Metrics,” Les Cahiers du GERAD, G–95–25, École des Hautes Ètudes Commerciales, Montreal, Canada (1995).
Supowit, K., Reingold, E., and Plaisted, D., “The Traveling Salesman Problem and Minimum Matching in the Unit Square,” SIAM Journal on Computing, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 145–166 (1983).
Walas, R.A. and Askin, R.G., “An Algorithm for NC Turret Punch Press Tool Location and Hit Sequencing,” IIE Transactions, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 280–287 (1984).
Winship, J.T., “Flexible Sheetmetal Fabrication,” Special Report 779, American Machinist, pp. 85–106 (1985).
Wolfram, S., The Mathematica Book, Wolfram Media, Cambridge, U.K. (1996).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laporte, G., Lopes, L. & Soumis, F. Optimal Sequencing Rules for Some Large-Scale Flexible Manufacturing Problems Under the Manhattan and Chebychev Metrics. International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems 10, 27–42 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007965500674
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007965500674