Optimum machine selection in multistage manufacturing systems

Machine selection during the initial stages of facility planning is critical as most capital costs are incurred in the investment of new machines. This paper presents an approach for optimizing the number of machines acquired for batch processing in a multistage manufacturing system. Machines of the same type differ in their processing capabilities. Four cases of overlap in machine capabilities are examined. For each case, the problem is optimized with and without the time balance constraints between the stages. The output is the optimum number of machines of each type to be purchased for each stage, as well as the optimum time delay between the stages such that the system cost is minimized. The resulting multistage line is then simulated under specified conditions to observe its behaviour over time and to assess the viability of the developed model.