Some Issues in Controlling Integrated WIP Material Handling Systems

In an automated factory, material handling will be but one element of a hierarchical control system. Experience shows, however, that the computer controls for some highly automated work-in-process (WIP) handling systems are not consistent with strictly hierarchical architectures. In this context, we propose an approach to integrating the control of automated WIP handling within hierarchical process control and explore some of implications for the design of interfaces and coordinating mechanisms.