Assessment of effects of large scale filter rod logistics system upgrading

In order to assess the effects of filter rod logistics system upgrading quantitatively, the simulation modeling of a certain large scale filter rod logistics system was conducted at overall planning stage, the optimization effects of four strategies, half-zone direct supply for full tray retrieving, mixed operation for machine group tray receiving/retrieving, the nearest-first strategy for full tray receiving, and the opposite-first strategy for empty tray receiving, were assessed by system simulation for the validation of scheduling strategy and stepwise optimization technique. The results showed that:1) Comprehensive application of the first three strategies was significantly effective, the utilization rates of one-rail double-SRM (storage/retrieval machine) in filter rod manufacturing zone and shooting zone decreased by 19.7% and 31.6% respectively, both of them fell within the reasonable interval of 80%-90%. 2) The fourth strategy was not obviously effective. This method provides a technical support for promoting the handling capacity of filter rod logistics system.