Estimation of line efficiency by aggregation

Abstract

In this paper multi-stage ftow linPs with intermediate buffers are approximatt·d
\nby two-stage line:; by u~:~ing repeated u.ggr<>gation. The aggregation nwthod uses
\nrestricted information of the output Jlattern of two-stage lines. The method is
\ntested for the eaHe where all pt·oduetion units am unreliable with expmwntiallifeand
\nrepair-time~:~. It appeat·s that it performs well for most eases, provided we
\naggregate in t.he eotTeet sequenee.