The interactive process between some dispatching mechanisms and interrupted machine centers in FMSs

Scheduling in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) differs from that conve ntional job shop because each operation of a job may be performed by any on e of several machines. In the current paper, the interactive process betwee n routing flexibility index (single route index up to 192 route index are c lassified into nine route flexibility indices), different interruption rati os (zero up to 100% art:classified into six interruption indices), as well as 16 dispatching polices are studied. The dispatching mechanism that will perform the best with the considered measuring performance criteria for eac h route flexibility index and model configuration has been determined. Glob al conclusions and trend of variations have been highlighted. (C) 2000 Publ ished by Elsevier Science B.V.