Scalability analysis of selected structures of a reconfigurable manufacturing system taking into account a reduction in machine tools reliability

Abstract

Scalability is a key feature of reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS). It enables fast and cost-effective adaptation of their structure to sudden changes in product demand. In principle, it allows to adjust a system's production capacity to match the existing orders. However, scalability can also act as a "safety buffer" to ensure a required minimum level of productivity, even when there is a decline in the reliability of the machines that are part of the machine tool subsystem of a manufacturing system. In this article, we analysed selected functional structures of an RMS under design to see whether they could be expanded should the reliability of machine tools decrease making it impossible to achieve a defined level of productivity. We also investigated the impact of the expansion of the system on its reliability. To identify bottlenecks in the manufacturing process, we ran computer simulations in which the course of the manufacturing process was modelled and simulated for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-stage RMS structures using Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software.