Control of the FMS by the Product, in Presence of Stochastic Phenomena - Simulation and Results
Résumé
This paper deals with a new multi-agent approach to control manufacturing process where agents represent products, assemblies and parts, which results in increased reactivity and flexibility. The approach is based on a bionic manufacturing paradigm, where raw materials carry information on possible processing. The approach results in a decentralized product-approach model with communication based on a social approach to production management. The manufacturing system (MS) is managed by a set of autonomous and intelligent agents just as the activities in a society result from actions of individuals. The discrete-event type simulation of the control system, built from agents of materials, parts and products, confirms the potential of self-scheduling production. An experimental case study is studied by simulation. Agents able to negotiate operations that the materials, parts and products must undergo on the manufacturing workstations are attached to the former. These agents have all the necessary information on production environment, objectives, constraints and rules. They make decisions and they interact. This is how production is managed. The results show that our approach is able to schedule and control a simple production system without a prearranged schedule.