The Workload Distribution Problems in a Class of Flexible Manufacturing Systems

This study complements the previous studies on workload distribution problems in Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Specifically, we consider the problem in two perspectives, the long-range policy and the short and medium-term planning and control. The long-term loading policy focusses on identifying the optimal loading of the system characterized by either balanced loading or unique unbalanced loading for which a steepest ascent method is developed. These results are then applied to study the optimal medium and short-term planning and control problems, for which a truncated dynamic programming method is developed in order to obtain the optimal allocation of the given operation mix of part types to work stations.