A real-time, rule-based FMS operation control strategy in CIM environment—Part I

Conventional manufacturing system scheduling methods (even when run on superfast computers) cannot be considered appropriate in a real-time controlled CIM environment because of their inability to react quickly and in an ‘intelligent’ way to dynamic changes in the controlled system. The paper gives a brief overview of the scheduling problem in CIM/FMS architectures, demonstrates different methods of scheduling by showing algorithms and results, as well as outlining and demonstrating some new ways of dynamic scheduling. Part 1 gives a summary of the most important design rules enabling the implementation of a truly dynamic FMS operation control strategy, discusses methods such as loading sequence, balancing, capacity planning and others, and concludes by outlining a new, dynamic scheduling concept and scheduling rules. Additional informationNotes on contributorsPAUL G. RANKY This work was performed while the author was visiting Associate Professor, The. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.