Optimal selection of the local storage sizes of an assembly system

This paper describes the design of an assembly system consisting of a set of work stations and a set of quality control stations, linked by a set of transporter stations; given that the processing rates of all the work stations and the transporter stations, the defective fraction of the workpieces at each quality control station, and the expected throughput rate of the system are specified. The minimum required local storage sizes of the work stations and the transporter stations are obtained such that the probability of finding either a work station or a transporter station blocked is sufficiently close to zero.