ABSTRACT
This chapter contains an analytical model for determining the physical productivity rate of an automated line that is segmented into sections with embedded buffers and with workstations and sections of different failure rates. To increase the productivity rate, the complex machining processes are decomposed uniformly and balanced on several short consecutive operations that are performed on serial workstations. Such production processes are arranged on manufacturing lines of serial arrangements with linear and circular designs. Circular design is preferable for a small number of serial workstations as it is more compact and convenient for maintenance. Manufacturing processes of the work parts with complex design is implemented on the multi-operational machine tools with several sequence of machining processes. Automated production lines of a serial structure are most prevalent in the mass manufacturing of the products and work parts. The mathematical models for maximal productivity rates of the automated lines with optimal number of serial workstations and buffers of different capacity were formulated.
