The exponentialization approach to flexible manufacturing system models with general processing times

Recently flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) have been modelled as closed networks of queues. In this paper we develop an exponentialization approach to the modeling of FMS networks with general processing times. The idea of the approach is to transform the network into an (approximately) equivalent exponential network, where each station has exponential processing times with state-dependent rates. The approach is formulated as a fixed-point problem. Numerical examples have indicated excellent accuracies of the approach. This approach can also be readily adapted to accommodate limited local buffers and dynamic parts routing.