VDI 4486:2012-03

Thîs guideline describes an alternative method for determining the availability of material flow systems. It leaves out the traditional relative availability calculation based on the ratio of usable to total operating time of the interrelated elements of a material handling system. However it focuses on the desired function respectively performance of the material flow system. The new directive considers two approaches to measure function or performance which are waiting times or lead times according to the objectives of operation. Two examples highlight the application of the new method.