An agent-based approach for e-manufacturing and supply chain integration

A major problem facing manufacturing organisations is how to provide efficient and cost-effective responses to the unpredictable changes taking place in a global market. This problem is made difficult by the complexity of supply chain networks coupled with the complexity of individual manufacturing systems within supply chains. Current systems such as manufacturing execution systems (MES), supply chain management (SCM) systems and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems do not provide adequate facilities for addressing this problem. This paper presents an approach that would enable manufacturing organisations to dynamically and cost-effectively integrate, optimise, configure, simulate, restructure and control not only their own manufacturing systems but also their supply networks, in a co-ordinated manner to cope with the dynamic changes occurring in a global market. This is realised by a synergy of two emerging manufacturing concepts: Agent-based agile manufacturing systems and e-manufacturing. The concept is to represent a complex manufacturing system and its supply network with an agent-based modelling and simulation architecture and to dynamically generate alternative scenarios with respect to planning, scheduling, configuration and restructure of both the manufacturing system and its supply network based on the coordinated interactions amongst agents.     

Web驱动的电子化制造技术

通过融入Web驱动和非接触式的电子信息技术，电子化制造(e—manufacturing)系统可使企业获得近乎零的故障停机率，并可与企业高层商务系统保持信息同步，创造“只对信息处理一次(OHIO，only handle information once)”的工作环境。本文介绍了Web驱动的电子化制造技术的基本原理、战略规划及其所应具备的基本要素，并重点阐述了智能维护这一关键技术。最后，为电子化制造的实施提出了应对策略。     

网络化制造中动态联盟盟员选择研究

就盟主企业建立动态联盟的过程、盟友的评价指标体系、优化决策的算法进行了分析与研究,建立了盟友选择的数学模型,提出模糊综合评价算法及分层模糊综合评价的改进算法。最后将算法应用于实践,证明了其可行性和有效性。     

Operation allocation and part type selection in E-manufacturing: An auction based heuristic supported by agent technology

This paper enlightens some of the key issues involved in developing real schedule generation architecture in E-manufacturing environment. The high cost, long cycle time of development of shop floor control systems and the lack of robust system integration capabilities are some of the major deterrents in the development of the underlying architecture. We conceptualize a robust framework, capable of providing flexibility to the system, communication among various entities and making intelligent decisions. Owing to the fast communication, distributed control and autonomous character, agent-oriented architecture has been preferred here to address the scheduling problem in E-manufacturing. An integer programming based model with dual objectives of minimizing the makespan and increasing the system throughput has been formulated for determining the optimal part type sequence from the part type pool. It is very difficult to appraise all possible combinations of the operation-machine allocations in order to accomplish the above objectives. A combinatorial auction-based heuristic has been proposed to minimize large search spaces and to obtain optimal or near-optimal solutions of operation-machine allocations of given part types with tool slots and available machine time as constraint. We have further shown the effects of exceeding the planning horizon due to urgency of part types or over time given to complete the part type processing on shop floor and observed the significant increase in system throughput.     

区域网络化制造中设备资源优化配置的研究

分析了区域网络化制造中实现设备资源优化配置的过程及关键技术,并基于模糊综合评判算法进行设备资源优化配置。最后将算法应用于实践,证明了其可行性和有效性。     

高速加工机床的相关技术进展

用提高切削速度来提高生产率是人们一直努力的方向，这也是高速加工技术发展的不竭动力。本文说明了高速加工的起源，介绍了高速切削机床相关技术的最新进展及其今后一段时期的主要研究方向。     

Hybrid lean–agile manufacturing system technical facet,in automotive sector

In the automotive sector, planners have a difficult balancing act. They benefit from commonality of vehicle parts, yet they must meet more niche demands. The challenge is to strike a balance between these extremes in a cost-effective way without compromising quality. Lean strategies could increase competitiveness and profitability by reducing manufacturing costs. Concurrently, agile strategies could enable enterprises to cope with fluctuations. A hybrid lean–agile approach can be an optimal strategic blend for a manufacturing enterprise to meet this challenge. Flexible focused factory, globalized fractal E-manufacturing, innovative value chain strategies, and designing dynamic manufacturing strategies are the four technical pillars of the proposed hybrid lean–agile manufacturing system technical facet. The study shows that hybridizing the lean and agile systems together is technically valid and can be implemented in an industrial setting. It shows how strategically a hybrid lean–agile system can be implemented. It also shows that about one third of the variation in successfully dealing with the sources of competitive advantage in automotive industry can be explained by adopting the technical facet of the hybrid lean–agile manufacturing system.     

A Web-based programmable logic controller laboratory for manufacturing engineering education

This study presents the design and development of a Web-based programmable logic controller (PLC) system architecture that supports hands-on laboratory exercises in automated manufacturing systems control area for distance education. The system architecture allows remote users to access and control a PLC-based table-top manufacturing system via the Internet. A Web site has been designed and developed that facilitates interactivity and supports PLC programming and control. The architecture has been tested and implemented in the course Emgt 334 Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems at the Integrated Systems Facility (ISF) in the Engineering Management Department at the University of Missouri-Rolla during Fall 2001. This study shows that software tools available in the market can be integrated to develop a fairly complex, yet effective, learning environment for distance education. The architecture presented in this paper is not dependent on specific PLC hardware or software configuration, it represents a generic infrastructure. This revised version was published online in October 2004 with a correction to the issue number.     

基于XML的网络化制造信息转换和传输技术研究

针对网络化制造存在的异构信息交互的问题,建立一种网络化的信息转换和传输模式。该模式实现企业数据库和标准的XML文档之间的相互转换,通过XML的加密技术、数字签名和SOAP传输协议实现信息传输;并研究该模式的相关实现技术。最后,分析制造信息传输过程中的安全问题。     

Development of a mobile manufacturing system with PDA and PLC

With the mobility and computability of personal digital assistants (PDAs), they should play an important role in the post-PC era. Currently, PDA applications are still limited to service business. In this project, an attempt was made to extend the content of mobile applications to industrial use. This paper is a feasibility study on the factory-to-business (F2B) practice with a programmable logic controller (PLC), a PDA and a PC-based platform for a driller. A PDA is a hand-held human-machine interface (hhHMI) which operates on a compact flash Ethernet card and embedded VB 3.0 program while a host PC connected to the PLC and AP (access point) station that conforms to IEEE 802.11b. Experimental results show that the PDA and PC-based platforms are able to control and monitor a PLC-controlled manufacturing system promptly for a F2B practice.