An efficient heuristic for scheduling batches of parts in a flexible flow system

Flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) are a class of automated systems that can be used to improve productivity in batch manufacturing. Four stages of decision making have been defined for an FMS—the design, planning, scheduling, and control stages. This research focuses on the planning stage, and specifically in the area of scheduling batches of parts through the system.The literature to date on the FMS planning stage has mostly focused on the machine grouping, tool loading, and parttype selection problems. Our research carries the literature a step further by addressing the problem of scheduling batches of parts. Due to the use of serial-access material-handling systems in many FMSs, the batch-scheduling problem is modeled for a flexible flow system (FFS). This model explicitly accounts for setup times between batches that are dependent on their processing sequence.A heuristic procedure is developed for this batch-scheduling problem—the Maximum Savings (MS) heuristic. The MS heuristic is based upon the savings in time associated with a particular sequence and selecting the one with the maximum savings. It uses a two-phase method, with the savings being calculated in phase I, while a branch-and-bound procedure is employed to seek the best heuristic solution in phase II. Extensive computational results are provided for a wide variety of problems. The results show that the MS heuristic provides good-quality solutions.     

Evaluating the design of flexible manufacturing systems

Evaluating the design of flexible manufacturing systems is complex. Developing a measure of performance useful for evaluating alternate designs continues to be interesting. Here, total productivity of the system is proposed as an appropriate measure. Specification of parameters based upon strategic considerations for this measure are discussed. Finally, the usefulness of the measure is demonstrated through an example.     

A decision-making approach to the operation of flexible manufacturing systems

This paper introduces a generic decision-making framework for assigning resources of a manufacturing system to production tasks. Resources are broadly defined production units, such as machines, human operators, or material handling vehicles; and tasks are activities performed by resources. In the specific context of FMS, resources correspond to individual machines; tasks correspond to operations to be performed on parts. The framework assumes a hierarchical structure of the system and calls for the execution of four consecutive steps to make a decision for the assignment of a resource to a task. These steps are 1) establishment of decision-making criteria, 2) formation of alternative assignments, 3) estimation of the consequences of the assignments, and 4) selection of the best alternative assignment. This framework has been applied to an existing FMS as an operational policy that decides what task will be executed on which resource of this FMS. Simulation runs provide some initial results of the application of this policy. It is shown that the policy provides flexibility in terms of system performance and computational effort.     

On modeling the design of cellular manufacturing systems

A new optimization model is discussed for the design of cellular manufacturing systems. It is based on an integer programming formulation that updates some other models by eliminating redundant machine assignment and cost coefficients dependent on cell configuration. To reduce computational burdens, a simplified integer programming model and a decomposition algorithm are proposed. Several computer solutions were performed to evaluate the performance of the new model. The computational results are discussed.     

战略网络形成动因之制造模式篇

本研究目的在于探究战略网络生成中制造模式的推动作用。文章首先分析了制造模式在技术经济范式变迁中扮演的角色,总结出制造模式与技术经济范式之间的关系,接着运用数学抽象和哲学思辨的方法,提炼出人类历史上三次制造模式对技术经济范式的价值实现函数。基于该函数研究发现:精益生产中目的在于充分调动人的主观能动性,以实现人的解放的复合机制——现场管理、劳工关系管理和知识管理等体系是制造模式未来的发展方向;战略网络的演进服务于制造模式的价值实现功能,它的生成是为了弥补制造模式柔性不足的缺陷。     

计算机技术在机械制造与管理中的应用

在我国,计算机技术在机械制造企业的应用刚刚开始起步,虽然取得了一定的效果,但在应用规模、范围上与发达国家相比还存在较大的距离。为了加快我国机械企业信息化的步伐,本文具体探讨了计算机技术在我国机械制造与管理中应用特点与现状,列举了一些实例,探讨了计算机技术在机械制造与管理中的应用发展。     

Partner Selection for Strategic Alliance in Networked Manufacturing

Networked Manufacturing is the trend evolution for manufacture enterprise to gain core competence in the networked economy environment. In this paper, the definition of the strategic alliance is introduced and its life cycle is described. As the selection of suitable partners is of vital importance to the success for strategic alliance in Networked Manufacturing environment, also in this paper, the definition, criteria and process for partner selection are introduced. Then the fuzzy-AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method, as a fuzzy extension of analytic hierarchical approach for partner selection, is given. In the end, a case study is provided.     

Automation, work organization and skills: The case of numerical control

This paper deals with small and medium sized firms. Since the late seventies small and medium sized mechanical engineering firms in France have resorted increasingly to new technologies, and in particular to numerical control. Numerical control has introduced major changes in work organization. On the one hand it tends to reinforce the role of methods of production engineering whatever the type of numerical control may be. Programming is seldom left to the machine operators, except in the case of straightforward machining operations or in machining shops with a strong tradition of highly skilled or artisan labour. Numerical control, on the other hand, does provide more opportunity for collaboration between the workshop and the production engineers. On a workshop level it introduces a more mobile division of labour between programmers, machine setters and operators, which covers everything from the start-up of programs to the supervision of maching operations. The operator may therefore acquire new skills, but this is only possible if there are open-ended training systems available to facilitate the transmission of know-how from the programmers to the machine setters and from the machine setters to the operators, and vice versa. Small and medium sized firms would appear to have a special role to play in developing skills.     

Direct Digital Manufacturing Industry Ascendant

The paper introduces the origin of the word of Direct Digital Manufacturing and other forms of address, and the working principles of Direct Digital Manufacturing technology and major types of the technology, hard- ware and software development, use of materials, applications, market growth and its development prospects. Focused presentations of Direct Digital Manufacturing （additive manufacturing） compared to traditional mechani- cal manufacturing industry in the use of prices, processing speed, reliability and cost advantages and characteris- tics. Particularly the significant challenges and competitiveness of Direct Digital Manufacturing technology in the processing of any complexity created directly the number of objects, internal structure and channel function, as well as the shape of the chassis components and structure of the matching and optimization.     

A virtual plant modeller (VPMOD) for batch-chemical processes

This paper presents a virtual plant modeller (VPMOD), which formally characterizes and integrates chemical product designs, batch-chemical equipment (plants), the real-time scheduling of chemical batches, and the control of chemical transport through the plant. These models provide a framework for agile batch-chemical manufacturing that has the ability to reroute and control chemical product flow automatically in a flexible plant subject to unexpected events, such as changes in demand patterns and equipment failure. A formal logic model is generated to control the actual system events, which are non-deterministic. A simulation environment in VPMOD is used to validate schedules and control logic based on plant models supplied by industry. The formal models have been implemented in an object-oriented language.