A GPSS/H model for a hypothetical flexible manufacturing system

Abstract

A GPSS/H model is presented for a hypothetical flexible manufacturing system. The FMS consists of six machines composed of three machine types, manufactures three types of parts, and uses automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) to transport inprocess parts between appropriate machines and wait spaces in the system. Three logical modules have been designed for the model, with copies of these modules then being appropriately distributed and interfaced throughout the model and tailored to achieve overall representation of the specific FMS. The same technique can be used by others to build analogous or extended GPSS/H models for other specific FMSs in which AGVs are used as transporters. Simulations can then be performed with such models to research FMS design and control alternatives.