Approximation methods for the analysis of a multicomponent,multiproduct assemble‐to‐order system

In this article, we consider the performance evaluation of a multicomponent, multiproduct assemble‐to‐order (ATO) system. Each component is managed independently using a base‐stock policy at a supply facility with limited production capacity and an infinite buffer. The arrivals of demands follow a multivariate Poisson process and unfilled demands are backlogged. Because exact analysis of the proposed system is not feasible, we propose two approximation methods which provide upper and lower bounds for various performance measures such as fill rate, average waiting time, and average number of backorders of the proposed system. Our computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the two approximation methods under various system settings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011     

Multi‐period maintenance scheduling of tree networks with minimum flow disruption

We introduce a multi‐period tree network maintenance scheduling model and investigate the effect of maintenance capacity restrictions on traffic/information flow interruptions. Network maintenance refers to activities that are performed to keep a network operational. For linear networks with uniform flow between every pair of nodes, we devise a polynomial‐time combinatorial algorithm that minimizes flow disruption. The spiral structure of the optimal maintenance schedule sheds insights into general network maintenance scheduling. The maintenance problem on linear networks with a general flow structure is strongly NP‐hard. We formulate this problem as a linear integer program, derive strong valid inequalities, and conduct a polyhedral study of the formulation. Polyhedral analysis shows that the relaxation of our linear network formulation is tight when capacities and flows are uniform. The linear network formulation is then extended to an integer program for solving the tree network maintenance scheduling problem. Preliminary computations indicate that the strengthened formulations can solve reasonably sized problems on tree networks and that the intuitions gained from the uniform flow case continue to hold in general settings. Finally, we extend the approach to directed networks and to maintenance of network nodes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011     

Cyclic scheduling in robotic flowshops with bounded work‐in‐process levels

This study addresses cyclic scheduling in robotic flowshops with bounded work‐in‐process (WIP) levels. The objective is to minimize the cycle time or, equivalently, to maximize the throughput, under the condition that the WIP level is bounded from above by a given integer number. We present several strongly polynomial algorithms for the 2‐cyclic robotic flowshop scheduling problems for various WIP levels. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 58: 1–16, 2011     

基于逆向分层的工作流时间-费用优化方法

针对效用网格下基于优先级因子的工作流时间-费用优化问题,基于工作流的同步完成特征对任务进行分层并提出三种实时调度算法:基于逆向分层的sufferage(BLSuff)、基于逆向分层的min-min(BLMin)及基于逆向分层的min-max(BLMax)。算法设计基于优先级因子的衡量标准对时间与费用同时进行优化,并为任务设置期望完成时间以达到充分利用费用优化空间进行费用优化的目标。实验结果表明这三种算法在各种优先级因子下都能对工作流的执行时间与执行费用进行较好的优化。     

模拟海深条件下提升阀流动特性的实验研究

水压传动技术应用于深海环境可以直接从海洋中吸水加压,高压水作功之后可以直接排入海洋,不需要水箱和回水管道,大大简化了系统,具有独特的优势。然而,在深海作业时,液压元件的工况同陆地相比有较大的差异,海深压力相当于在元件出口加了一个背压。文中用背压来模拟海水压力,对以水作介质时背压对提升阀口流量特性的影响进行了实验研究。研究结果表明,背压使得流量饱和更容易发生;有背压时的流量系数比没有背压时的流量系数大;当阀芯和阀座有叠合时,背压对阀口流量特性的影响比阀芯和阀座没有叠合时的影响大。     

The impact of component commonality on composite assembly policies

Assemble in Advance (AIA) policy reduces assembly cost due to advance planning, while Assemble to Order (ATO) policy eliminates assembly of excessive (more than demanded) units. The tradeoffs between the two policies have been studied in the past for single product environments. Moreover, it was shown that it is beneficial to employ AIA and ATO simultaneously. In this article, we study the employment of such a composite assembly policy in a multiproduct environment with component commonality. When common components are used, ATO may also enable us to benefit from the risk pooling effect. We provide important managerial insights such as: the multiperiod problem is myopic and changes in inventory levels due to the use of common components, and demonstrate the potential profit increase compared to other policies.© 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

Optimal burn‐in procedure for periodically inspected systems

Burn‐in is a widely used method to improve the quality of products or systems after they have been produced. In this paper, we study burn‐in procedure for a system that is maintained under periodic inspection and perfect repair policy. Assuming that the underlying lifetime distribution of a system has an initially decreasing and/or eventually increasing failure rate function, we derive upper and lower bounds for the optimal burn‐in time, which maximizes the system availability. Furthermore, adopting an age replacement policy, we derive upper and lower bounds for the optimal age parameter of the replacement policy for each fixed burn‐in time and a uniform upper bound for the optimal burn‐in time given the age replacement policy. These results can be used to reduce the numerical work for determining both optimal burn‐in time and optimal replacement policy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

Modeling and analysis of a mixed‐model assembly line with stochastic operation times

We consider a mixed‐model assembly line (MMAL) comprised a set of workstations and a conveyor. The workstations are arranged in a serial configuration. The conveyor moves at a constant speed along the workstations. Initial units belonging to different models are successively fed onto the conveyor, and they are moved by the conveyor to pass through the workstations to gradually generate final products. All assembling tasks are manually performed with operation times to be stochastic. An important performance measure of MMALs is overload times that refer to uncompleted operations for operators within their work zones. This paper establishes a method to analyze the expected overload times for MMALs with stochastic operation times. The operation processes of operators form discrete time nonhomogeneous Markov processes with continuous state spaces. For a given daily production schedule, the expected overload times involve in analyzing the Markov processes for finite horizon. Based on some important properties of the performance measure, we propose an efficient approach for calculating the expected overload times. Numerical computations show that the results are very satisfactory. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

Technical note: Worst‐case performance of power‐of‐two policies for serial inventory systems with incremental quantity discounts

This study presents power‐of‐two policies for a serial inventory system with constant demand rate and incremental quantity discounts at the most upstream stage. It is shown that an optimal solution is nested and follows a zero‐inventory ordering policy. To prove the effectiveness of power‐of‐two policies, a lower bound on the optimal cost is obtained. A policy that has a cost within 6% of the lower bound is developed for a fixed base planning period. For a variable base planning period, a 98% effective policy is provided. An extension is included for a system with price dependent holding costs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

一种新型的计算化学非平衡流动的解耦方法

给出一种计算化学非平衡流动的解耦方法。利用该方法从薄层近似N S方程出发 ,采用NND2M差分格式 ,数值模拟了H2 /O2 燃烧的超音速绕流场 ;计算表明这种方法可以有效地解决刚性问题 ,而且与现有的隐式算法相比 ,具有公式推导简便 ,占用内存少 ,计算效率高等优点 ,特别适合于多组分和多反应的情况