Title: Real-time control of parts input in flexible production systems by the pattern classification and analogy process

Authors: Rizauddin Ramli, Hidehiko Yamamoto

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Human and Information Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-city 501-1193, Japan

Abstract: In this paper, we consider a parts input problem in a flexible production system consisting of two production lines (upstream and downstream) that are linked by buffers (BUFF). The parts input rules for the upstream production line is based on the observation of the parts lineup situation on the BUFF. Using the parts observation, a real-time control of parts input by pattern recognition called Real-Time Parts Input by Pattern Recognition System (RT-PIPS) is proposed. Pattern recognition consists of the pattern classification and pattern identification processes. Two types of pattern identification processes (Sum Square Method (S²M) and Rank Replacement Method (R²M)) are considered. Simulations of virtual production systems are carried out to verify that RT-PIPS is useful in real-time parts input control, although the production orders are different from the predecided production scheduling.

Keywords: flexible production systems; flexible manufacturing; real-time control; if-then rules; just-in-time; JIT; pattern classification; analogy process; pattern identification; upstream production lines; downstream production lines; buffers; BUFF; parts observation; sum square method; rank replacement method; RT-PIPS; real-time parts input; pattern recognition; virtual production systems; pre-decided production scheduling; product development; production design; production management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2010.029984

International Journal of Product Development, 2010 Vol.10 No.1/2/3, pp.3 - 25

Published online: 03 Dec 2009 *

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