Computer simulation and analysis of production line with two unreliable full batch machines and a finite buffer

Abstract

This paper investigates computer simulations of deterministic and exponential models of a production line with full-batch processing and a finite buffer in order to validate the theoretical models already developed, and to gain more insight to the production line behavior through the simulations. The steady-state overall production rate is the performance measure that is used to compare systems. The effects of buffer size, repair rate, and machine size on the production rate; the conditions of ergodicity; and the differences between the deterministic model and the exponential model are discussed.