Analysis of an unreliable batch machine and a finite buffer fed by an unreliable single-item machine: partial batches

This paper considers a flow line with two unreliable machines and a finite buffer. The first machine is an unreliable single-item machine and the second machine is an unreliable batch machine. The purpose of this paper is to present a model, and exact analysis of this system under the assumption of partial-batch control policy. We demonstrate generalized conservation of flow and flow rate-idle time relationships. We present performance measures such as production rate, expected in-process inventory, mean size of batch served in the second machine, and probabilities of blocking and starvation.