Scenario based distributed manufacturing simulation using HLA technologies

Simulating complex and distributed manufacturing systems is not easy using traditional simulation techniques. Manufacturing environment contains several systems that must interoperate and exchange information. A general software architecture is necessary to make manufacturing systems interrelated. This paper presents an overview of distributed manufacturing simulation as well as of information representation in distributed manufacturing simulation using high level architecture (HLA) and its object model template (OMT). The concept is explained with a scenario which is provided to better address the object class structure, interaction class structure, attribute, parameter and data type tables.     

一个基于Web的网络虚拟现实系统的设计与实现

虚拟现实技术发展很快，有广泛的工业和商业应用。网络虚拟现实技术已越来越为工业制造业所关注，虚拟制造环境(VME)的一个主要用途是在线可视化和对3D信息的协作控制，这需要实时数据传输的支持。为了满足基于Internet的VE通信需求，特别是为满足虚拟制造和协作设计和控制，该文设计并实现了一个支持网络虚拟设计和制造的网络虚拟现实系统，此系统用MMS协议实现VE通信，并将工业控制服务集成于基于Internet的虚拟环境中。     

Integration of manufacturing services into virtual environments over the internet

Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly developing technology that has a wide spectrum of industrial and commercial applications. Networked (distributed or shared) virtual environments (VE) are of growing interest to modern manufacturing industry; a dominating use of networked virtual manufacturing environments (VMEs) is on-line visualisation and collaborative control of 3D information. This has to be supported by real-time data transfer. To meet a broad range of common requirements for Internet-based VE communications, particularly for virtual manufacturing and collaborative design and control, this paper presents a networked virtual environment system that is designed to support networked virtual design and manufacturing. The system is implemented with manufacturing message specification (MMS) standards so as to integrate a range of manufacturing services into networked VEs over the Internet.     

MAP网络接口控制器（TIM）的设计和实现

ＭＡＰ协议是制造自动化的主要国际标准，米用一种网络接口控制器将各生产设备联入ＭＡＰ网，是当前采用ＣＩＭＳ技术实现生产自动化的捷径。本文介绍了一个网络接口模块（ＴＩＭ）的应用环境，其软硬件组成，软件功能分层及其中的信息传输过程。     

基于XML和移动代理的企业资源信息集成方法研究

企业资源信息的集成是实现制造业信息化工程的一项重要内容,资源信息的表达和共享是实现敏捷制造、异地制造时应解决的关键问题。通过对已有集成方法的分析,找出其在资源信息集成中存在的问题。提出了基于XML和移动代理技术的资源信息集成的新方法。在分析其体系结构的基础上,对实现集成的技术方法进行了探索,并将其应用于工程实际中。     

基于动态制造资源的产品工艺分工规划研究

针对制造企业联盟的产品工艺分工问题,研究并开发了基于动态制造资源的网络化产品工艺分工规划系统。论文阐述了工艺分工的设计方法,提出了逻辑制造单元、逻辑加工路线等新概念,并对产品工艺分工系统的体系结构与功能组成、基于动态制造资源的零件与逻辑制造单元建模方法、基于知识的逻辑加工路线设计及可执行加工路线生成方法进行了详细讨论。     

Guest editorial

Attention has recently focused on improving the information and knowledge flow between design and manufacturing. Interfacing Computer Aided Design (CAD) with Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems has helped this information flow while also improving both processes. Once CAD and CAM systems were introduced the obvious next step to (1) decrease a product's time-to-market and its costs, while (2) increasing the product's quality, has been to utilize knowledge based system technology during both the design and the manufacturing phases of a product. Unfortunately, the knowledge based systems that we have developed have been designed as stand-alone components. These have been built using a variety of implementation philosophies, styles of reasoning and are deployed over distributed computing environments. The companies with large investments in design and manufacturing automation, as well as in expert system technology have come to realize that achieving the two goals stated above will require the integration of such diverse systems in ways that will allow their coordination and cooperation. This special issue of theJournal of Intelligent Manufacturing has brought together reports of recent research whose goal was this type of integration.     

The relevance of Computer Supported Cooperative Work for advanced manufacturing

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is faced with issues which are crucial to Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). However, despite the large amount of work on Enterprise Integration and its obvious links to the CSCW field, this domain is almost totally absent in the work of the CSCW community. Therefore, this paper is intended to contribute to the discussion on the relevance of CSCW in manufacturing and to combine new concepts for cooperative work with requirements for information system design in production. Production related models, e.g., an order-driven mode of coordination, can be augmented with mechanisms of interaction for coordination, collaboration and co-decision and the design of customer/supplier chains. It is suggested, as one example, to use workflow management technology in advanced manufacturing for shop-floor production planning and control (PPC). The proposed enterprise model and support technology is especially useful for small-batch production.     

制造业信息化建设

推进制造业信息化是落实"以信息化带动工业化"战略、走新型工业化道路的重要举措。推进制造业信息化是《国家中长期科学和技术发展规划纲要》提出的重要任务;是面向国民经济建设主战场,整合科技资源、实施"以信息化带动工业化"战略、走新型工业化道路的重要举措;是推进经济结构调整和经济增长方式转变的重要手段。制造业信息化将信息技术、自动化技术、现代管理技术与制造技术结合应用,推进设计制造数字化、生产过程智能化和企业经营管理信息化。用高新技术改造和提升制造业,促进制造业研发设计、生产制造、企业管理和市场营销的变革,带动产品设计和制造模式的创新、企业管理和经营模式的创新以及企业间协作模式的创新,是新时期我国制造业适应全球竞争环境、生存和发展的必由之路,对提升我国制造业的自主创新能力和市场竞争能力具有重要意义。     

An evaluation framework for deploying Web Services in the next generation manufacturing enterprise

In today's competitive manufacturing environment, the ability to effectively and efficiently manage the flow of information is a vital competency. Manufacturing enterprises must be able to integrate their internal business processes horizontally and vertically, and they are increasingly required to support federated business processes with other members of their respective virtual value chains. Web Services, an emerging form of service-oriented architecture for distributed computing, have the potential to serve as a key enabling technology to support these requirements. Leveraging the inherent interoperability of Internet and Worldwide Web technologies, they enable cooperative processing across heterogeneous computing environments. This paper presents a framework for evaluating the viability of Web Services technologies to be incorporated into enterprise information architectures to support the business needs and requirements of next generation manufacturing enterprises. It examines economic, technical, and organizational contexts that will influence the ability of manufacturing-related enterprises to deploy advanced information architectures based on Web Services to support the complex business processes needed to collaborate with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders in virtual enterprise environments.     

Industrial Additive Manufacturing: A manufacturing systems perspective

As Additive Manufacturing becomes increasingly prevalent in commercial manufacturing environments, the need to effectively consider optimal strategies for management is increased. At present most research has focused on individual machines, yet there is a wealth of evidence to suggest competitive manufacturing is best managed from a systems perspective. Through 14 case studies developed with four long-established Additive Manufacturing companies this paper explores the conduct of Industrial AM in contemporary manufacturing environments. A multitude of activities, mechanisms, and controls are identified through this detailed investigation of Additive Manufacturing operations. Based on these empirical results a general four component Industrial Additive Manufacturing System is developed, together with the identification of potential strategic opportunities to enhance future manufacturing.     

CIM—the integration of manufacturing and information systems

The integration of computers within the manufacturing environment has long been a method of enhancing productivity. Their use in many facets of a manufacturing enterprise has given industries the ability to deliver low-cost, high-quality competitive products. As computer technology advances, we find more and more uses for new hardware and software in the enterprise. Over a period of time, we have seen many “islands” of computer integration. Distinct, fully functional hardware and software installations are a common base for many industries. Unfortunately, these islands are just that, separate, distinct and functional but non-integrated. The lack of integration within these information systems make it difficult for end users to see the same manufacturing data. We are finding the need for a “single image” real-time information system to provide the enterprise with the data that is required to plan, justify, design, manufacture and deliver products to the customer. Unfortunately, many industries have a large installed base of hardware and software. Replacement of current systems is not a cost-justified business decision. An alternative would be the migration of current systems to a more integrated solution. The migration to a computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM)-based architecture would provide that single image real-time information system.

The effort and skills necessary for the implementation of a CIM-based architecture would require active participation from two key organizations: Manufacturing and information systems (I/S). The manufacturing engineers, process engineers and other manufacturing resource would be the cornerstone for obtaining requirements. The ability to effectively use I/S is a critical success factor in the implementation of CIM. I/S has to be viewed as an equal partner, not just as a service organization. Manufacturing management needs to understand the justification process of integrating computer systems and the “real” cost of integration versus the cost of non-integrated manufacturing systems. The active participation of both organizations during all phases of CIM implementation will result in a effective and useful integrated information system.     

Development of an Architecture for a Hybrid Manufacturing Information System

In a previous paper, the concept of a Generic Non Standard-specific Information Flow System (GNSIFS) was discussed [1]. The main feature of GNSIFS is that it can perform data exchange among a group of manufacturing systems, regardless of the operating systems or standards being used. Further research in this field shows that, to enhance the capability of GNSIFS, the database system of GNSIFS, which is considered to be the key constituent of the whole system, should consist of a relational data model that is to be complemented with a free format data model. In addition, the ‘reasoning’ capability of this information flow system can also be advanced if a Rule Knowledge DataBase (RKDB), together with the associated inference engine, can be included in the GNSIFS, resulting in the formation of a Hybrid Manufacturing Information System (HMIS) which manages the information flow from a combination of relational, free format and rule knowledge data models. This hybrid information management feature is favourable to the progressive advancement of the ‘reasoning’ nature of the system, and at the same time, has the benefit of relational data processing. This paper describes the architecture required for the formation of this Hybrid Manufacturing Information System (HMIS), and tests this system in a real company to evaluate its viability in an industrial environment.     

A hybrid multi-agent system architecture for enterprise integration using computer networks

The manufacturing industries are now experiencing fierce pressure of competition from every corner on this planet. In addition, the advancement in computer networks and information technologies has been gradually reshaping the manufacturing companies by shifting from the industrial age to the information era. Due to these elevated competitiveness and advanced computer technology, a number of new manufacturing and management strategies (e.g., CE or CIM) have emerged for the innovation of manufacturing enterprises. Although they have different definitions and scopes, there are several common issues: inter-enterprise functions integration; inter-enterprise resources integration; and collaboration. This paper proposes a new multi-agent system (MAS) architecture to support the inter-enterprise functions/resources integration and collaboration over the networked environment, including the hybrid agent architecture and hybrid network architecture. In contrast to the existing agent architectures, the proposed agent architecture enables agents to exhibit the hybrid (continuous and discrete) behavior and interactions. In addition, our network architecture is more suitable for building the large-scale distributed manufacturing systems that are prone to dynamic random changes of their environment. Based on the proposed MAS architecture, a collaborative product development environment is implemented as a starting point, and a multidisciplinary team-oriented design problem is illustrated to provide the vision of the proposed MAS architecture.     

SDMSim: A manufacturing service supply–demand matching simulator under cloud environment

Nowadays, with the introduction and application of new information technologies in manufacturing, various advanced manufacturing modes and national strategies have been put forward and paid more and more attention, such as Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet, Cyber-Physical System or Cyber Manufacturing, Made in China 2025, Internet Plus Manufacturing, Cloud Manufacturing, etc. For these modes and strategies, how to realize the effective and intelligent supply–demand matching (SDM) of various manufacturing resources and capabilities (MR&C) in the form of service is one of the common issues and aims. In order to provide a uniformed research platform for related researchers both in academic and industry, the concept of manufacturing service SDM simulator (SDMSim) is proposed in this paper. A hypernetwork based architecture for the simulator is designed, as well as its seven key functions and subsystems, including manufacturing service management, manufacturing task management, manufacturing service SDM hypernetwork, manufacturing service SDM problem formulation and configuration, matching and scheduling algorithms/strategies selection and design, statistical analysis, and visualization. It illustrates that SDMSim has the potential to serve the users of manufacturing service provider, manufacturing service consumer, manufacturing service operator in the field of SoM, as well as the related researchers.     

Expert systems for manufacturing cell simulation and design

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is approached by means of the application of Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and other CA techniques, methods and programs/program systems. These programs are often implemented as knowledge-based, or expert systems and in this way they became typical examples of engineering application of artificial intelligence. The production task of CIM systems is solved by using flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). FMSs built up from smaller, complex units, i.e. from flexible manufacturing cells (FMCs) have several advantages. The design and the operation of manufacturing systems need new, sophisticated methods to utilize all the embedded benefits of the sophisticated and expensive elements installed for production purposes. New methods like knowledge processing technology, cooperative problem-solving techniques, etc., offer wide possibilities to design more reasonable systems. This paper describes prototype expert systems that make use of different knowledge-based tools and techniques to design (configure, reconfigure) and simulate manufacturing cells, taking into consideration technological plans and other relevant information.     

A review of function blocks for process planning and control of manufacturing equipment

Manufacturing in a job-shop environment is often characterized by a large variety of products in small batch sizes, requiring real-time monitoring for dynamic distributed decision making, and adaptive control capabilities that are able to handle, in a responsive way, different kinds of uncertainty, such as changes in demand and variations in production capability and functionality. In many manufacturing systems, traditional methods, based on offline processing performed in advance, are used. These methods are not up to the standard of handling uncertainty, in the dynamically changing environment of these manufacturing systems. Using real-time manufacturing intelligence and information to perform at a maximum level, with a minimum of unscheduled downtime, would be a more effective approach to handling the negative performance impacts of uncertainty. The objective of our research is to develop methodologies for distributed, adaptive and dynamic process planning as well as machine monitoring and control for machining and assembly operations, using event-driven function blocks. The implementation of this technology is expected to increase productivity, as well as flexibility and responsiveness in a job-shop environment. This paper, in particular, presents the current status in this field and a comprehensive overview of our research work on function block-enabled process planning and execution control of manufacturing equipment.     

基于Internet的镁合金加工行业现代集成制造系统——MAMTCIMS

MAMTCIMS是基于Internet和企业内部Intranet开发的面向镁合金加工行业的现代集成制造系统,论文介绍了面向镁合金加工企业现代集成制造的系统框架及各功能分系统,并建立以行业骨干企业为依托,在加工企业之间中实现基于Internet的行业信息共享、制造资源共享和咨询的模式,并论述了系统所提供的主要服务及关键技术。     

INTELLIGENT COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING (I-CIM): Research Perspectives

Abstract

Manufacturing automation has progressed through various stages from simple data transfer to the intelligence-intensive systems. The future of CIM relies heavily on intelligence-intensive systems because manufacturing is no longer confined to one local site and manufacturing systems have become complex because of their global nature. In this article, the authors study the future manufacturing environment as a collaborative effort. The essential characteristics-the requirements for integration from a process and communication perspective-are identified as are steps in the process requiring further study. Finally, Intelligent-Computer Integrated Manufacturing (I-CIM) scenarios are presented for specific problems.