Performance prediction of an unreliable flexible manufacturing cell with double gripper robot

We analyse a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) having two computer controlled machines, a robot for internal material handling and an automated input/output conveyor device termed as pallet, to bring in (take out) product mix into (from) the manufacturing cell. All the components have been considered unreliable as such subject to breakdown, which is followed by repair. Apart from individual failure, whole manufacturing system might get halt due to some common cause also. The special feature of the model formulated is the incorporation of a double gripper robot which can hold two work pieces at a time. Transient analysis has been done using Runge‐Kutta 4th order technique. Some performance measures of vital importance have been derived and their behaviour relative to various system parameters has been displayed in tables and graphs by taking a numerical illustration.