A Study on Method of Automated Scheduling for Dynamically Changing Manufacturing Environment

Abstract

In this study, scheduling method using a combination of auction-type real-time scheduling and simulation is proposed in order to automate the scheduling in dynamically changing manufacturing environment. The control mechanism which is essential for executing real-time scheduling and simulation simultaneously is developed and implemented. The auction algorithm for the real-time scheduling which improves the delay of delivery date and amount of setup time at the same time is proposed. Also the method of simulation during the real-time scheduling which can predict the changing situation of the shop and automatically take countermeasures by adjusting the scheduling precondition is proposed and its effectiveness is confirmed by computational experiments. With these methods, prototype system is developed and tested under the condition of actual machining line. As a result, it is clarified that the proposed system has the ability to respond flexibly to dynamically changing manufacturing situation.