Dynamics of Real-Time Distributed Scheduling in Multiple-Machine Heterarchical Manufacturing Systems

Abstract Heterarchical manufacturing systems with highly-distributed, real-time control of arrival times of parts exhibit high levels of robustness and adaptability to changes in machine availability, part mix, processing times, and due dates. However, distribution of control and queuing in these systems makes analysis and modeling difficult, particularly when parts proceed through multiple processing steps and these processing steps can be performed by more than one machine. In this paper, a general approach is presented for modeling these systems. Examples of multiple-machine and multiple-processing-step systems are presented, illustrating their behavior and closed-form solutions obtained of discontinuous differential equations that represent their dynamics.