Title: A control design strategy of a reconfigurable manufacturing system

Authors: N.H. Ben Fong, Robert H. Sturges

Addresses: Engineering Services, Rockwell Automation, 1201 South Second Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA. ' Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Durham Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

Abstract: A Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS) is defined as one that can provide adaptability to quickly adjust the production capacity and functionality in response to fluctuations in customer demand. An advanced analytical modelling approach and control design strategy is introduced to improve the system responsiveness of multistage feedback control RMS. A System Dynamics (SD)-based multistage RMS model is mathematically translated into block diagram representations and transfer functions. A control design technique called Root-Locus is presented to propose a new operation management policy to better predict and control the dynamic responses of a RMS in reduction of inventory and Lead-Time (LT). By applying this graphic view approach, one can improve the RMS responsiveness and also determine its relative system stability without iterative trial-and-error simulation replications as found in discrete event simulation and SD approach.

Keywords: RMS; reconfigurable manufacturing systems; feedback control; root-locus design; reconfiguration; modelling; system dynamics; inventory reduction; lead time reduction; control design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2009.023779

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.17 No.1/2, pp.68 - 81

Published online: 11 Mar 2009 *

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