Combining AI with Simulation Techniques in CIM Control

Abstract This contribution presents an architecture for production planning and control, which combines an artificial intelligence part, implemented as a multi-expert system with a simulation module. In this way the adaptability and flexibility requested by the present manufacturing companies can be achieved. The part which makes inferences, in a symbolic approach, is responsible for obtaining a schedule and control procedure; for evaluation and capacity planning assessment this knowledge based control system makes use of the simulation module. For this one, it is easy to handle the temporal and quantitative aspects involved in flexible manufacturing planning.