Configuration of the Autonomous Decentralized Manufacturing System based on Product Agents (4th Report)

Abstract

In this research, a product agent is proposed for the configuration of an autonomous decentralized manufacturing system which flexibly responds to high–mix, very–low volume production. When a blank workpiece is put on to the production line, the product agent is dynamically generated with the product model. According to the state of each machine tool in the factory, the agent plans the machining process by itself. The agent selects one process plan from several generated plans based on total machining time. In this report, trial implementation of a product agent which has a process planning function and production simulation using several product agents were done. These trials showed the flexibility of a proposed manufacturing system based on product agents.