We review MIT research in manufacturing systems engineering, and we describe current and possible future research activities in this area. This includes advances in decomposition techniques, optimization, token-based control systems analysis, multiple part types, inspection location, data collection and several other topics.

M and control of distillation columns is a research area that evokes considerable interest. On the one hand, substantial savings are possible with good controllers, on the other hand, distillation columns are often used as test cases for new methods of model based controller design. Strongly nonlinear behavior and high order are the characteristics that present challenges when designing control...