Multi-type rework in two-stage production systems with an initial storage-cost analysis

This paper deals with the analysis of two-stage production systems with an initial storage of finite capacity. It provides an integrated framework to consider manufacturing, inspection and rework activities simultaneously. Rework of a defective item produced by machine I is done on machine I itself and depends on the type of defect. Explicit expressions for some of the system characteristics have been obtained using the state-space method and regeneration point technique. All the random variables involved in the analysis are assumed to be arbitrarily distributed (i.e., general) except for the arrival time distribution of input to the initial buffer.