A Framework based on a High Conception Level to Generate Configurations in Production Systems

In this paper, a framework is presented to generate configurations in reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS). This framework is based on a high conception level of reconfigurable manufacturing systems, and uses a multicriteria decision algorithm to select operations to carry out the request. Provisional product scheduling is then used to define the “simple configuration”. This paper focuses on the generation process of the “nearmost appropriate” configuration to carry out a request. To do so, the same multicriteria decision algorithm is used to select “reserved operations” to improve the generated configuration.A case of study illustrates our approach and demonstrates how we can use this framework to generate the “near-optimal” configuration and improve reconfigurability.