Agent-based modeling and simulation of an autonomic manufacturing execution system

• Published in: Computers in industry Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 53 - 78
• Main Authors: ROLON, Milagros, MARTINEZ, Ernesto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 2012; Elsevier; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computer science; control theory; systems; Computer simulation; Control systems; Design for manufacturability; Distributed scheduling; Disturbances; Dynamical systems; Exact sciences and technology; Information systems. Data bases; Intelligent agents; Intelligent automation; Inventory control, production control. Distribution; Logistics; Manufacturing; Manufacturing execution systems; Mathematical models; Memory organisation. Data processing; Multi-agent simulation; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Production control; Production controls; Production management; Production planning; Simulation; Software; Studies; Systems design; Intelligent automation; Multi-agent simulation; Distributed scheduling; Manufacturing execution systems; Production control; Autonomous system; On demand; On line; Raw materials; Modeling; Delay; Maneuverability; Shortage; Mechanism synthesis; Production planning; Breakdown; Production system; Automation; Computer simulation; Layout plan; Scheduling; Integrated management; Production management; Multiagent system; Batch process; Logistics
• ISSN: 0166-3615; 1872-6194
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compind.2011.10.005

► Detailed design of an interaction mechanism for distributed production control. ► Generative simulation for behavior verification in multi-agent systems for MES design. ► Introducing the autonomic computing paradigm in shop-floor automation. ► Simulation results highlight robustness and stability of the autonomic MES. Production management systems must constantly deal with unplanned disruptive events and disturbances such as arrivals of rush orders, raw material shortage/delays or equipment breakdowns along with a multitude of interactions in the supply chain which constantly demand on-line task rescheduling and order execution control. For responsiveness and agility at the shop-floor, a distributed design for manufacturing execution systems is proposed based on autonomic units that fill the gap between production planning and shop-floor control. An interaction mechanism designed around the concept of order and resource agents implementing the monitor-analyze-plan-execution loop is described. Generative simulation modeling of an autonomic manufacturing execution system (@MES) is proposed in order to evaluate emerging behaviors and macroscopic dynamics in a multiproduct batch plant. Results obtained for an industrial case study using a simulation model of the proposed @MES are presented. The usefulness of agent-based modeling and simulation as a tool for distributed MESs design and to verify performance, stability and disturbance rejection capability of an interaction mechanism is highlighted.