Simulation-based multiobjective optimization and availability analysis of reconfigurable manufacturing systems

Abstract: Due to the changes and improvements that have occurred over the years, the manufacturing sector has evolved. Companies in the 21st-century face changes in the marketplace that are difficult to predict due to international competition and the rapid emergence of new products. To cope, companies must reinvent themselves and design manufacturing systems that seek to produce quality and low-cost products, and respond to the changes that must be faced. These capabilities are encompassed in reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS), capable of dealing with uncertainties quickly and economically. On the other hand, production planning with this type of system presents a significant challenge. Although simulation-based optimization techniques have been applied to address certain RMS challenges, only a few studies have applied simulation-based multi-objective optimization to simultaneously address several conflicting design objectives, as is the case in this project. This project aims to investigate some aspects using SBMO that directly affect the performance of a plant and demonstrate the usefulness of the method.