Multi-criteria Dynamic Scheduling and Simulation-based Control in Flexible Manufacturing Systems

This study presents the development of a multi-criteria control methodology for flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). The control methodology is based on a two-tier decision making mechanism. The first tier is designed to select a dominant decision criterion using a rule-based algorithm. In the second tier, using a look-a-head multi-pass simulation, a scheduling rule that best advances the selected criterion is determined. The decision-making mechanism was integrated with the shop floor control module that comprises a real-time simulation model at the top control level and RapidCIM methodology at the low equipment control level. The proposed control methodology was compared to a selected group of scheduling rules/policies using DEA. The results demonstrated the superiority of the suggested control methodology as well as its capacity to cope with a fast changing environment.