• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.93-107
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• 1996

A flexible flow line(FFL) consists of several groups of identical machines. All work-orders flow along the same path through successive machine groups. Thus, we emphasized the balancing of workloads between machine groups in order to maximize total productivity. On the other hand, many different types of work-orders, in varying batch or lot sizes, are produced simultaneously. The mix of work-orders, their lot sizes, and the sequence in which they are produced affect the amount of workload. However, the work-orders and their lot sizes are prefixed and cannot be changed. Because of these reasons, we have developed an optimal route selection model using heuristic search and Min-Max algorithm for balancing the workload between machine groups in the FFL.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.5-21
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• 1994

We have described the optimal process route selection model for the PCB(printed circuit board) auto-insertion line. This PCB assembly line is known as a FFL(flexible flow line) which produces a range of products keeping the flow shop properties. Under FFL environments, we have emphasized the balancing of work-loads in order to maximize total productivity of PCB auto-insertion line. So we have developed a heuristic algorithm based on a work-order selection rule and min-max concept for the job route selection model.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 1999

This research involves the development and evaluation of a work flow control model for a type of flexible manufacturing system(FMS) called a flexible flow line(FFL). The control model can be considered as a kind of hybrid intelligent model in that it utilizes both computer simulation and neural network technique. Training data sets were obtained using computer simulation of typical FFL states. And these data sets were used to train the neural network model. The model can easily incorporate particular aspects of a specific FFL such as limited buffer capacity and dispatching rules used. It also dynamically adapts to system uncertainty caused by such factors as machine breakdowns. Performance of the control model is shown to be superior to the random releasing method and the Minimal Part Set(MPS) heuristic in terms of machine utilization and work-in-process inventory level.

• IE interfaces
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 1995

A printed circuit board auto-insertion line consists of several processes of identical machines and produces several different types of PCBs. Each board must be processed by at most one machine in each process. So, we call it a flexible flow line. The load balancing is the one of the most important issues in the FFL which has many sequential processes. Therefore we have represented the job route selection model to balance the load of inter-process in the PCB auto-insertion line, and validated it by simulation.