RDCAPP: A real-time dynamic CAPP system for an FMS

Computer-aided process planning (CAPP) systems need to consider the uncertain nature of the shop-floor prior to the identification of job routes and processing sequences. This paper describes the design and development of a prototype, real-time dynamic CAPP (RDCAPP) system for a multimachining-centre flexible manufacturing system (FMS). Concepts relevant to this research include CAPP, profile input using group technology (GT), artificial-intelligence-based expert systems, and FMSs.RDCAPP considers facility characteristics, machine capacity and the current shop-floor conditions prior to developing a process plan Input to the system is through a GT code and additional auxiliary interactive inputs. RDCAPP uses uncertainty management techniques to keep track of and adapt to changes in shop-floor status. The paper discusses the architecture of RDCAPP in detail. The system was tested rigorously and its outputs validated. Ideas for future research are presented.

[1]  Harold J. Steudel,et al.  Computer-aided process planning: past, present and future , 1984 .

[2]  Kripa Shanker,et al.  A loading and dispatching problem in a random flexible manufacturing system , 1985 .

[3]  Stanley B. Gershwin,et al.  Flow optimization in flexible manufacturing systems , 1985 .

[4]  Rangasami L. Kashyap,et al.  Application of expert systems and pattern recognition methodologies to facilities layout planning , 1988 .

[5]  Richard A. Wysk,et al.  Integrating CAD and CAM through automated process planning , 1984 .

[6]  Richard A. Wysk,et al.  An Introduction to Automated Process Planning Systems , 1984 .

[7]  David W. Rolston.  Principles of Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems Development , 1988 .

[8]  Soundar Kumara,et al.  Expert systems in industrial engineering , 1986 .

[9]  Raj Bhatnagar,et al.  Handling Uncertain Information: A Review of Numeric and Non-numeric Methods , 1985, UAI.

[10]  Tien-Chien Chang,et al.  A rule based system for printed wiring assembly process planning , 1987 .

[11]  Tarun Gupta,et al.  A survey of expert systems in manufacturing and process planning , 1989 .

[12]  Andrew Kusiak,et al.  Machine layout: an optimization and knowledge-based approach , 1990 .

[13]  Krishnaswami Srihari,et al.  Macro-capp: A prototype capp system for an FMS , 1990 .

[14]  M. Week,et al.  Integrated Manufacturing and Assembly , 1985 .

[15]  W. Eversheim,et al.  Survey of Computer-Aided Process Planning Systems , 1982 .

[16]  George F. Luger,et al.  Artificial Intelligence and the Design of Expert Systems , 1990 .

[17]  Hong-Chao Zhang,et al.  Computer Aided Process Planning: the state-of-the-art survey , 1989 .