Multiagent System Integrating Process and Quality Control in a Factory Producing Laundry Washing Machines

Paulo Leitao,Claudio Turrin,Nelson Rodrigues,Arnaldo Pagani

doi:10.1109/tii.2015.2431232

Paulo Leitao, Claudio Turrin + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/tii.2015.2431232

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Abstract

Manufacturing companies are currently forced to reconsider their production processes by adopting more flexible, robust, and adaptive systems, aiming to improve their competitiveness. Multiagent systems (MASs) technology is suitable to address this challenge by providing an alternative way to design these complex systems based on the decentralization of the control functions over distributed entities. This paper describes the installation of a MAS solution in an industrial factory plant producing laundry washing machines. The installed solution focuses on the integration of quality and process control, and contributes to the maximization of the factory profitability facing changing conditions by applying self-adaptation procedures at the local and global levels. The preliminary results show improvements in the production efficiency and product quality, as well as a reduction of the scrap costs.

Highlights

M ANUFACTURING companies are playing in global markets that demand highly customized products, with high-quality and short-delivery times
In spite of the promising perspective, few industrial applications are reported in the literature, which makes difficult the convincement of industry stakeholders on the benefits and maturity of this technology
This paper describes the implementation and installation of a Multiagent systems (MASs) solution in an industrial factory plant producing laundry washing machines, aiming to integrate process and quality control for the implementation of self-adaptation at local and global levels

Summary

Introduction

M ANUFACTURING companies are playing in global markets that demand highly customized products, with high-quality and short-delivery times. Aiming to improve their competitiveness, they are forced to adopt more flexible, robust, adaptive, and responsive systems. This vision for the factories of the future [1] is sustained by the Industrie 4.0 initiative that aims to create intelligent factories by promoting the computerization of traditional industries [2]. Multiagent systems (MASs) [3], [4] are pointed out as suitable to face this challenge by decentralizing the control functions over a network of autonomous and cooperative entities to provide modularity, autonomy, flexibility, robustness, and adaptability.

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