Simultaneous optimisation of control factors in automated storage and retrieval systems and fms using stochastic coloured petri nets and the taguchi method

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are playing an important role in modern manufacturing systems such as flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). The integration of AS I RS systems and FMS is very complex owing to the complexity of the individual elements. Stochastic coloured petri nets (SCPN) can be used to model, simulate and analyse such a system efficiently and realistically. In this paper, SCPN based simulation, aided by the Taguchi method of design of experiments, has been used for analysing the influence of important factors on makespan, unproductive travel time, and the mean flow time, and is supported by an example. © 1996 Springer-Verlag London Limited.