Simulation-based shop floor control: formal model, model generation and control interface

Abstract

In this paper, a structure and architecture for the rapid realization of a simulation-based real-time shop floor control system for a discrete part manufacturing system is presented. The research focuses on automatic simulation model and execution system generation from a production resource model. An Automatic Execution Model Generator (AEMG) has been designed and implemented for generating a Message-based Part State Graph (MPSG)-based shop level execution model. An Automatic Simulation Model Generator (ASMG) has been designed and implemented for generating an Arena simulation model based on a resource model (MS Access 97) and an MPSG-based shop level execution model. A commercial finite capacity scheduler, Tempo, has been used to provide schedule information for the Arena simulation model. This research has been implemented and tested for six manufacturing systems, including The Pennsylvania State University CIM laboratory.