NOVEL DISPATCHING RULES FOR MULTIPLE-LOAD AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES

Managing the manufacturing systems and establishing scheduling is a dynamic process that must be handled properly in the event that unexpected events arise. Scheduling manufacturing systems requires not only considering the availability of machines, but also their material handling systems. In a dynamic manufacturing environment, dispatch rules are commonly used in scheduling machines and material handling systems. Multiple-load Automated Guided Vehicles (MAGVs) handle multiple loads. There is a discussion of problems associated with MAGVs, including task determination, delivery, pickup, and load selection. In this study, new rules for determining tasks, determining delivery routes, and selecting loads are proposed and investigated. The proposed rules are evaluated using simulation models with two performance criteria: makespan and lateness, in comparison with the rules presented in the literature as the best. According to the results, the proposed rules result in schedules with the shorter makespan and shorter lateness.