Applying Bond Graphs for Modelling the Manufacturing Dynamics

Abstract

Supply chain dynamics and execution control seem not to receive as much attention as the domain of supply chain planning by means of static optimization models. The dynamics of manufacturing systems also deserves attention, since they are the fundamental pieces of a supply chain. In this paper, a dynamic model for the production control of a multi-product manufacturing system is developed using the Bond Graph modeling methodology. The proposed model is applied to depict the dynamics of a real job shop production system of propylene bags, where the control objective is to adjust the processing frequency of the machines to attend the demands of the products, while keeping the work in process at the desired levels. Exploratory simulations were carried out, and the preliminary results showed that the system could be autonomously controlled. Some advantages of the Bond Graph methodology are also highlighted.