Analysis of

Material Transport Systems

▪ Analysis of vehicle-based systems

▪ From-to charts and network diagrams
▪ Rate of deliveries per vehicles
▪ Number of vehicles required
▪ The time for a typical delivery cycle consists of
1. Loading at the pickup station
2. Travel time to the drop off station
3. Unloading at the drop off station
4. Empty travel time of the vehicle between deliveries
 Total cycle time per delivery per vehicle

Tc = TL + Ld/Vc + TU + Le/Ve

▪ Tc: delivery cycle time (min/del)

▪ TL: time to load at load station (min)
▪ Ld: distance between load and unload stations (m)
▪ Vc: carrier velocity when loaded (m/min)
▪ TU: time to unload at unload station (min)
▪ Le: distance the vehicle travels empty before next cycle
▪ Ve: velocity of empty vehicle (m/min)
 Usage of delivery cycle time

Tc: can be used to determine 2 parameters

▪ Tc: delivery cycle time (min/del)

▪ Rate of deliveries per vehicle

▪ Number of vehicles required to satisfy a specified total

delivery requirement
 Hourly rate of deliveries per vehicle
The hourly rate of deliveries per vehicle is 60min, adjusted
for any time losses during the hour, divided by the delivery
cycle time.

Rdv = AT / Tc = (60.A.Tf.E) / Tc

▪ Rdv: hourly delivery rate per vehicle (del/hour per vehicle)

▪ AT: available time in 1 hour with adjustments for time losses (min/hr)
▪ Tc: delivery cycle time (min/del)
▪ A: availability (vehicle not broken down or repaired)
▪ Tf: traffic factor (time losses due to traffic congestion)
▪ E: worker efficiency
 Number of vehicles required
The total number of vehicles can be estimated by calculating
the total workload required and then dividing by the
available time per cycle.

Nc = WL / AT = Rf.Tc / AT = Rf / Rdv

▪ Nc: number of carriers required

▪ WL = work load (min/hr): total amount of work, expressed in
terms of time, that must be done in 1 hour = Flow rate X Tc
▪ AT: available time in 1 hour with adjustments for time losses (min/hr)
▪ Rf: specified flow rate of total deliveries per hour (del/hr)
▪ Tc: delivery cycle time (min/del)
▪ Rdv: hourly delivery rate per vehicle (del/hour per vehicle)
 AGVS data
▪ Loading time at load station: 0.75 min - TL
▪ Unloading time at unload station: 0.50 min - Tu
▪ AGVS complete total 40 del/hr – Flow rate Unload
man

▪ Vehicle velocity: 50 m/min – Vc, Ve A

G
AGV guide path

V
▪ Availability: 95% -A 20

▪ Traffic factor: 90% -Tf 55

40
▪ Operator efficiency does not apply, E = 100%
▪ Determine: 20

▪ Travel distances loaded and empty A

G

▪ - Ld and Le ? Load
man
V
Direction of vehicle
movement

▪ Ideal delivery cycle time –Tc ?

▪ Number of vehicles required –Nc ?
 Determining number of vehicles
required in this AGVS
▪ Loaded travel distance: Ld = 35 + 40 + 35 = 110m
▪ Travel distance empty: Le = 20 + 40 + 20 = 80m
▪ Ideal cycle time per delivery per vehicle Unload
man

▪ Tc = TL + Ld/Vc + TU + Le/Ve A
G
AGV guide path

V
▪ Tc = 0.75 + 110/50 + 0.50 + 80/50 20

▪ Tc = 5.05 min = Delivery cycle time 55

40
▪ Workload of AGVS:
▪ WL = flow rate X Tc = 40(5.05) = 202 min 20

▪ Available time: A
G
▪ AT = 60.A.Tf.E = 60(0.95)(0.90)(1.0) Load
man
V
Direction of vehicle
movement
▪ AT = 51.3 min per hour per vehicle
▪ Number of vehicles: Nc = WL/AT = 202/51.3 = 3.94