Joint determination of production run length and number of standbys in a deteriorating production process

Two economic manufacturing quantity models with unrepairable and repairable standby key modules are proposed in this study that determine the economic production run length and the economic number of standbys in a deteriorating production process. where the key module of the production unit deteriorates over time and incurs some portion of defective items. For the model with unrepairable standbys, the active key module, once deteriorating, is replaced by a standby and the module itself is disposed. For the model with repairable standbys, the deteriorating key module is replaced by a standby and the module is then sent to the service center for maintenance. When completing the maintenance. it then joins the standbys for later production use. By minimizing the annual cost, which takes into account setup cost. holding cost, costs due to standbys and defective items, the economic production run length and the economic number of standbys are obtained for each of the proposed models. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.