A model to approximate transient performance of the flowshop

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Transient performance of the flowshop is approximated using a model which is based on the assumption that operation start and finish times are related by the multivariate normal distribution. Start times are defined by evaluating the maximum of the finishing times which determine the epoch at which an operation can begin. Fundamental relationships among the correlations of start and finishing times are derived and used in several computational procedures to estimate start times. Examples which demonstrate application of the approach to flowshops with finite and infinite buffer capacities are given. Applications of the approach to more complex queueing networks and assembly systems are described.