Impacts of Maintenance Policies on Fractal Layout Performance

Fractal cells were proposed to increase the flexibility of production systems and reduce production costs.Because all fractal cells comprise the same type of machine, they can manufacture any product type.Thus, product batches should not be moved on the factory floor.However, owing to natural wear and tear, machines must be stopped for maintenance, which requires machines from other cells, resulting in unnecessary travel.Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of maintenance management policies on fractal physical arrangements using a simulation model.The results indicate that increasing the number of fractal cells can be advantageous for reducing product displacement and makespan.