Performance evaluation and optimization model for closed-loop production lines considering preventive maintenance and rework process

Abstract

Closed-loop production lines with a constant number of carriers are widely encountered in today's production systems. In this paper, a production performance evaluation and optimization model is proposed for a closed-loop production line taking into account the degradation-level-dependent quality and rework process. Based on a two-machine-one-buffer decomposition method and the system state transition, a production performance evaluation method is presented. Due to the emphasis on quality management, preventive maintenance (PM) is used to ensure the reliability of the machines in the production line, increasing the effective output at minimum cost. A hybrid particle swarm optimization and estimation of distribution algorithm (PSO-EDA) is proposed to efficiently develop the optimal PM strategy. Finally, numerical experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness of the model. With the objective of maximizing the system profit, the optimization of the machines and pallets number is also explored.