Optimal robot operation and selection using quality and output trade-off

This paper presents a two-stage model for industrial robot operation and selection in a multi-product manufacturing system. The quality of the production process is related to robot repeatability and the output rate is related to robot speed. Robot repeatability deteriorates with increased speed. In the second stage, a one-period robot operational model maximises the expected profit of a risk-neutral decision maker, leading to optimal robot speed and production quantity decisions. Using the optimal speeds and quantities of the operational model and taking into account demand uncertainties, the first stage robot selection model is solved.