document: Design and analysis of optimal material distribution policies in flexible manufacturing systems using a single AGV Modern automated manufacturing processes employ automated guided vehicles -LRB- AGVs -RRB- for material handling , which serve several machine centres -LRB- MC -RRB- in a factory . Optimal scheduling of AGVs can significantly help to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process by minimizing the idle time of MCs waiting for the raw materials . We analyse the requirements for an optimal schedule and then provide a mathematical framework for an efficient schedule of material delivery by an AGV . A mathematical model is developed and then a strategy for optimal material distribution of the available raw material to the MCs is derived . With this model , the optimal number of MCs to be utilized is also determined . Finally , the material delivery schedule employing multiple journeys to the MCs by the AGV is carried out . Through rigorous analysis and simulation experiments , we show that such a delivery strategy will optimize the overall performance
doc_bio_tags: O O O O B I I I O B I I O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O B I O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B I O O O O O O O O O B O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
extractive_keyphrases: optimal material distribution policies flexible manufacturing systems agv material handling machine centres optimal scheduling material delivery
abstractive_keyphrases: automated guided vehicle waiting time manufacturing lead time idle time minimization