MES (manufacturing execution system) architecture for FMS compatible to ERP (enterprise planning system)

Abstract

Presented in the paper is MES (manufacturing execution system) architecture, which is suitable for managing FMS (flexible manufacturing system) lines under an ERP (enterprise planning system)environment. An IDEF0-model of an 'order handling' shop floor having an FMS line is developed to identify functional requirements of MES, and then a two-tier MES architecture satisfying the functional requirements is proposed. The proposed MES is composed of a Main-MES (for the main shop floor) and an FMS-MES (for the FMS line). A BOP (bill of processes) is used as a means to represent process plans, and a LS-Net (loading schedule network) is used as a mechanism for representing and manipulating loading schedules. Object models of BOP and LS-Net are presented, and the effectiveness of the proposed MES is demonstrated by applying it to two FMS lines, a stamping-die machining line and a mechanical part machining line.