AN INTEGRATED MATERIALS HANDLING MODEL FOR MACHINE LOCATION IN EXISTING FACILITIES

A machine location criterion is proposed for situations where machines must be located in existing facilities to manufacture new products. T he location criterion is based on a measure of materials handling serv ice. It is applicable when an existing, automated materials handling s ystem is fully integrated within an existing manufacturing facility. T he service level is measured by the expected rate of unsuccessful load transfers associated with a fixed production schedule, handling syste m, and assignment of machines to locations in a facility. An analytica l model focused on the interfaces of automated materials handling syst ems is formulated to predict the corresponding service level associate d with alternative machine locations in an existing facility. The mode l is illustrated through a sample problem which demonstrates how the s pecific operating characteristics of a typical automated materials han dling system can be modelled to predict handling performance for alter native machine locations.