The fixture layout is crucial to assure the product quality in a multistation assembly process （MAP）. A well-designed fixture layout will make the final product＇s variability be insensitive to the fixture variation inputs. As the basis of the fixture layout design, the design criterion plays an important role in the effectiveness of a solution and the optimization efficiency. In this paper, an effective and efficient design criterion is proposed for the fixture layout with a fixed reference point （FRP） in an MAP. First of all, a state space model for the individual port＇s variation propagation and accumulation is developed, which is the mathematical foundation of the proposed criterion. Then, based on this model, a novel design criterion used to evaluate the performance of the fixture layout is proposed for the fixture layout with an FRP. Finally, a method extracted from the proposed design criterion is developed for quick fixture layout design. A four-station assembly process is used to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed models and methods.
To investigate the effects of various random factors on the preventive maintenance （PM） decision-making of one type of two-unit series system, an optimal quasi-periodic PM policy is introduced. Assume that PM is perfect for unit 1 and only mechanical service for unit 2 in the model. PM activity is randomly performed according to a dynamic PM plan distributed in each implementation period. A replacement is determined based on the competing results of unplanned and planned replacements. The unplanned replacement is trigged by a catastrophic failure of unit 2, and the planned replacement is executed when the PM number reaches the threshold N. Through modeling and analysis, a solution algorithm for an optimal implementation period and the PM number is given, and optimal process and parametric sensitivity are provided by a numerical example. Results show that the implementation period should be decreased as soon as possible under the condition of meeting the needs of practice, which can increase mean operating time and decrease the long-run cost rate.
