In
this paper, we present a simulation approach to develop optimal control
strategies for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in a factory layout. This
paper is an appendation to a previous research, which determines the optimal
path for an AGV in a factory layout. We simulate the movements of the AGVs
on this optimal path and suggest the best strategy to control the vehicles.
We model the layout as a multiple queuing system. There are two kinds of
servers in the system. The first kind is the machines that process the
jobs that arrive by a stochastic process. The second kind of servers is
the AGVs that cater to the jobs as material handling equipment. We begin
by modeling the said network with an incapacitated flow path. We analyze
the model based on various performance measures such as average time to
complete a job, average total distance traveled by the AGVs and average
time spent by work-in-process jobs waiting for AGVs. We test various service
strategies which the define the manner in which the jobs arriving to use
an AGV are assigned priorities and various dispatch strategies which define
the way an AGV is assigned to a selected job. We simulate various combinations
of service-dispatch strategies and suggest the best strategy based on the
selected performance measures. We then compare the simpler cases of simulation
results to a theoretical M/G/1 queuing system to validate the model. Finally
we lay the foundation for further research for the case where blocking
is an important impediment to the movements of AGVs.
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