Search

Abstract: In the highly competitive market, cooperative multi-agent transaction and negotiation mechanism have become an important research topic. This paper uses multi-agent technology to construct a multi-section flexible manufacturing system (FMS) model, and utilizes simulation to build a manufacturing environment based on JADE framework for multi-agent to combine with dispatching rules, such as shortest imminent processing time (SIPT), first come first serve (FCFS) earliest due date (EDD), and Buffer Sequence. This paper finds that using multi-agent technique for multi-section FMS model can enhance the production efficiency in practice. Meanwhile, in this study, multi-agent systems combined with dynamic dispatching can be used to identify the best dispatching rules combination for achieving largest throughput, and thus it can provide the reference for production scheduling in advance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents an integrated computer simulation, goal programming, and design of experiment (DOE) algorithm to solve the jobshop scheduling problem with multiple objectives. The proposed algorithm is applied to an actual textile dyeing, printing, and finishing workshop for minimization of tardiness and makespan. The simulation model enables managers to find schedule of jobs on machines given a defined combination of decision parameters which provide the smallest completion time of jobs. We then utilize DOE for determining the decision parameters to estimate the effect of both qualitative and qualitative factors through metamodeling. A goal programming model is used to find the optimum values of decision variables subject to a set of technical and managerial constraints. The proposed algorithm concentrates on two main managerial objectives simultaneously whereas previous studies are able to consider a single criterion. Finally, distinctive features of the proposed approach are compared with previous studies and models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the dynamically changing market requirements, production enterprises are collaborating in the form of production chains to share life cycle engineering data/knowledge as well as to improve production efficiency and product quality. This paper proposes a model-based control mechanism and intelligent control layer, which is used to control the operation of chained production enterprises. The control mechanism is achieved by defining control levels as mapped to production chain topology using the concept of operation isolation area. Production constraints and control rules are defined as attached to structure elements. The proposed control layer is used to decide the suitable operation of the selected production chain, in view of process constraints and operating conditions. A case study of a generic production chain with recycling is used to show the proposed control mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]