Using Computer Simulation To Optimize Flexible Manufacturing System Design

An FMS is a highly integrated manufacturing system. The inter-relationships between its components are not well understood. Consequently, it has not been possible to develop closed form analytic models of FMSs. Computer simulation has been extensively applied to study their performance. The optimal design of FMSs is an important problem. In this research a computer simulation model of an FMS is interfaced with the Hooke-Jeeves algorithm to search an optimum design without full factory experimentation. Some modifications of the HJ algorithm are needed to accommodate the stochastic nature of computer simulation.