A general case for conveyor based transport and storage logistics

 

  • Logistics is an active contributor to factory efficiency!
  • The measure of factory efficiency is the Operating characteristic curve. I.e. the relation between throughput and cycle time.
  • The coefficient of the O.C. curve is process variability and variability of work arrival rates to tools.
  • Conveyors provide the least amount of variability of arrival rates

 

queuing_theory.jpg

Effect of conveyors on the system operating curve according to queuing theory


While conveyors have been a natural solution for in-line factory logistics (Computer disk drive media and assembly, pharmaceuticals) recursive manufacturing process applications (semiconductors, flat panel displays) are special cases.