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This study aims to evaluate the system reliability for a time-based stochastic manufacturing network (TSMN). The architecture of a TSMN includes arcs and nodes where each node is an inspection station and each arc is a workstation of identical machines. Due to the possibility of partial or complete maintenance and machine failures, the reliability should be time-dependent and the arcs could be considered as stochastic capacities. To consider time factor, the Weibull reliability function is utilized to characterize the time-dependent reliability of each machine. Then, based on the reliability of each machine, the workstation reliability can be derived, where the workstation reliability is the probability that a workstation can provide sufficient number of machines to complete a demand until a given time. Focusing on a given TSMN with the specified demand and constrained operating time, the performance for a TSMN, which is referred to as TSMN reliability, can be calculated in terms of workstation reliability. In addition, the situation for machines having different times under operation is analyzed for TSMN reliability. A step-by-step procedure for evaluating the TSMN reliability is developed, and a printed circuit board manufacturing system is discussed for the proposed TSMN reliability procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network structures have been diffusely adopted in logistics systems, where the most critical target is completing the delivery within the promised timeframe. This paper focuses on a single commodity in a multistate intermodal logistics network (MILN) with transit stations and routes to involve three parameters: a route’s capacity, delivery time and time window. There is a carrier along each route whose number of available containers is multistate because the containers can be occupied by other customers. The delivery time consisting of the service time, travel time and waiting time varies with the number of containers and vehicle type. The arrival time at the transit station should be within the time window, the interval between the earliest and latest acceptable arrival times. This paper evaluates the system reliability, the probability that the MILN can successfully deliver sufficient amount of the commodity to meet market demand via several transit stations under the delivery time threshold and time windows. The system reliability can be treated as a delivery performance index and is evaluated with a proposed algorithm in terms of minimal paths. A practical case of scooter parts distribution between Taiwan and China is presented to emphasise the management implications of system reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivery process is a critical issue from the viewpoint of supply chain management. However, in the delivery process, deterioration would occur because of natural disasters (e.g. earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane and landslide) or man-made factors (e.g. explosion, terrorist attack and vehicular collision). The results in the intact products arriving at the market may not satisfy the demand. This paper thus concentrates on a multi-state delivery network (MSDN) with multiple suppliers, in which a vertex denotes a supplier, a transfer station or a market, while a branch denotes a carrier providing the delivery service for a pair of vertices. The available capacity of the carrier responsible for the delivery on a branch is multi-state because the capacity may be partially reserved by other customers. The addressed problem is to evaluate the network reliability, the probability that the MSDN with the deterioration consideration can satisfy the market demand within the budget and production capacity limitations. An algorithm is developed in terms of minimal paths to evaluate the network reliability along with a numerical example to illustrate the solution procedure. A real case study of the deteriorating auto glass is utilised to demonstrate the utility of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]