The Maximal Profit Model for reaching an optimal design of the production line undergoing the limitations of obtainable resources is presented in this paper. This model is treated as an integer programming problem, and an efficient step-by-step algorithm to solve this problem is also constructed. In addition, it is discussed that the operation cost of a machine does not include idle and breakdown situations while the maintenance cost for a broken machine should be considered. | Yugoslav Journal of Operations Research 12 (2002), Number 2, 203-214 ACHIEVING OPTIMAL DESIGN OF THE PRODUCTION LINE WITH OBTAINABLE RESOURCE CAPACITY Miao-Sheng CHEN Graduate Institute of Management Nanhua University, Taiwan, . Chun-Hsiung LAN Department of Industrial Management Tungnan Institute of Technology Taiwan, . Abstract: The Maximal Profit Model for reaching an optimal design of the production line undergoing the limitations of obtainable resources is presented in this paper. This model is treated as an integer programming problem, and an efficient step-by-step algorithm to solve this problem is also constructed. In addition, it is discussed that the operation cost of a machine does not include idle and breakdown situations while the maintenance cost for a broken machine should be considered. This study offers a better tool for achieving the optimal design of a flexible production line and reveals the special applicability of the shortest path in production line design. Keywords: Maximal profit model, integer programming, obtainable resources. 1. INTRODUCTION A good production line is designed to be an efficient and profit-enhancement way for manufacturing products. It can be applied to both manual and automated manufacturing workstations. The advanced development of flexible machines provides more options for the layout of the production line. In practice, a firm already has a series of production stages for a given product before manufacturing. A flexible machine [2,3] is designed to combine two or more production stages into one workstation. Therefore, a flexible machine can perform a sequence of different operations, but a typical machine is merely for a single operation. A production line is generally configured by a sequence of workstations, and each workstation has one machine or more (the same type of machines in parallel). This is shown in Figure 1. 204 . Chen, . Lan / Achieving Optimal Design of the Production .
