PROCESS SEQUENCE OPTIMIZATION-BASED ON A NEW COST-TOLERANCE MODEL

Identification of the optimal production sequence and allocation of ma chining tolerance are important activities in process planning for red ucing production cost. This paper presents an approach that is capable of determining the optimal production sequence and its optimal proces s tolerance to achieve the minimum production costs. A new mathematica l model, representing the cost-tolerance relationships and showing sig nificant accuracy improvement over existing models, is introduced to a llocate process tolerance. Stock allowance constraints on the selected switching tolerance are also considered to yield practical solutions. A prototype system for hole-making components is used to verify and e valuate the effectiveness of the new approach. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall .