Tandem Configuration Automated Guided Vehicle Systems: A Compa

and Reference List Automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs) provide the flexibility and integration required for flexible manufacturing systems. Previous AGVS studies have attempted to reduce the controlling complexities commonly encountered in these systems. However, this has not been accomplished without additional resources (e.g., automated guided vehicles) and lower system flexibility. The primary objective of this study is to compare the performance of AGVS configurations that reduce controlling and modification complexities to traditional AGVS configuration (including two tandem configurations). Three AGVS configurations were tested under 16 experimental conditions. Performance metrics considered were AGV utilization, mean flowtime, mean tardiness, and percent tardy. The results of this study extend the findings of the previous studies in demonstrating the viability of tandem configurations, in that the tandem configurations match the performance of traditional configuration across all performance metrics, without sacrificing ease of control and system flexibility. Finally, the cost tradeoffs inherent in selecting a particular configuration are discussed. References [1] Bartholdi III, J.J. and Platzman, L.K., 1989, "Decentralized Control of Automated Guided Vehicles on a Simple Loop," IIE Transactions, 21(1), 76-81. [2] Bozer, B.A. and Srinivasan, M.M., 1989, "Tandem Configurations for AGV Systems Offer Simplicity And Flexibility," Industrial Engineering, 21(2), 23-27. [3] Bozer, B.A. and Srinivasan, M.M., 1991, "Tandem Configurations for Automated Guided Vehicle Systems and the Analysis of Single Vehicle Loops," IIE Transactions, 23(1), 72-82. [4] Co, C.G. and Tanchoco, J.M.A., 1991, "A Review of research on AGVS vehicle management," Engineering Costs and Production Economics, 22(1), 35-42. [5] Conway, R.W., Maxwell, W.L., and Miller, L.W., 1967, Theory of Scheduling, (Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley). [6] Egbelu, P.J. and Tanchoco, J.M.A., 1984, "Characterization of automatic guided vehicle dispatching rules," International Journal of Production Research, 22(3), 359-374. [7] Egbelu, P.J. and Tanchoco, J.M.A., 1986, "Potentials for bi-directional guide-path for automated guided vehicle based systems," International Journal of Production Research, 30(6), 1255-1268. [8] Fishman, G.S., 1978, Principles of Discrete Event Simulation, (New York: John Wiley & Sons). [9] Gaskins, R.J., Tanchoco, J.M.A., and Taghaboni, 1989, "Virtual flow paths for free ranging automated guided vehicle systems," International Journal of Production Research, 27(1), 91-100. [10] Goetz Jr., G.G. and Egbelu, P.J., 1990, "Guide path design and location of load pick-up/drop-off points for an automated guided vehicle system", International Journal of Production Research, 28(5), 927-941. [11] Kasilingam, R.G., 1991, "Mathematical modeling of the AGVS capacity requirements planning problem," Engineering Costs and Production Economics, 21(2), 171-175. [12] Kaspi, M. and Tanchoco, J.M.A., 1990, "Optimal flow path design of unidirectional AGV systems," International Journal of Production Research, 28(6), 1023-1030. [13] Mahadevan, B. and Narendran, T.T., 1990, "Design of an automated guided vehicle-based material handling system for a flexible manufacturing system," International Journal of Production Research, 28(9), 16111622. [14] Mahadevan, B. and Narendran, T.T., 1992, "Determination of unit load sizes in an AGV-based material handling system for an FMS," International Journal of Production Research, 30(4), 909-922. [15] Occena, L.G. and Yokota, T., 1991, "Modeling of an automated guided vehicle system (AGVS) in a just-intime (JIT) environment," International Journal of Production Research, 29(3), 495-511. [16] Occena, L.G. and Yokota, T., 1993, "Analysis of the AGV Loading Capacity in a JIT Environment," Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 12(1), 24-35. [17] Ozden, M., 1988, "A simulation study of multiple-load-carrying automated guided vehicles in a flexible manufacturing system," International Journal of Production Research, 26(8), 1353-1366. [18] Pegden, C.D., Shannon, R.E., and Sadowski, R.P., 1990, Introduction to Simulation Using SIMAN, (Hightstown, NJ: McGraw-Hill). [19] Sabuncuoglu, I. and Hommertzheim, D.L., 1992a, "Dynamic dispatching algorithm for scheduling machines and automated guided vehicles in a flexible manufacturing system," International Journal of Production Research, 30(5), 1059-1079. [20] Sabuncuoglu, I. and Hommertzheim, D. L., 1992b, "Experimental investigation of FMS machine and AGV scheduling rules against the mean flow-time criterion," International Journal of Production Research, 30(7), 1617-1635. [21] SAS User's Guide: Statistics, The SAS Institute, Inc., 1985 [22] Sinriech, D., and Tanchoco, J.M.A., 1991, "Intersection graph method for AGV flow path design," International Journal of Production Research, 29(9), 1725-1732. [23] Taghaboni, F. and Tanchoco, J.M.A., 1988, "A LISP-based controller for free-ranging automated guided vehicle systems," International Journal of Production Research, 26(2), 173-188. [24] Tanchoco, J.M.A. and Sinriech, D., 1992, "OSL-optimal single-loop guide paths or AGVS," International Journal of Production Research, 30(3), 665-681. [25] Vosniakos, G.C. and Mamalis, A.G., 1990, "Automated Guided Vehicle System Design For FMS Applications," International Journal of Machine Tools Manufacturing, 30(1), 86-87.