A general model for batch building processes under the timeout and capacity rules

In manufacturing systems, batch building processes are very common, as goods are often transported or processed in batches and must therefore be collected before these transport or processing steps can occur. In this paper, we present a method for the performance analysis of general batch building processes in material flow systems under the timeout and capacity rules. The proposed model allows for stochastic collecting times and incorporates no restrictions with respect to the number of arriving units and their interarrival times. The accuracy of the discrete-time approach is demonstrated by comparing this approach with a discrete-event simulation model in continuous-time. Subsequently, the model is applied to two cases: a transportation case from the health care industry and the process of building a batch for a batch processor.