Object-oriented methodology for FMS modelling and simulation

The complexity of a flexible manufacturing system FMS forces the designers to use modelling approaches and simulation in order to design their system and define strategies. However, the required models are usually large and complex since they implement a global description of an FMS. They must therefore take into account several types of flows interacting within quite different time scales. In order to increase the level of success of FMS simulation studies, an object-oriented modelling methodology is proposed which is based on a global and structured FMS modelling approach. This methodology exploits an original FMS systemic view and relies on a modelling process which promotes the development of a global communicative model of an FMS prior to creating a simulation system. The communicative model comprises a structural model and a functional model built with industrial experts thanks to a functional specification method and an object-oriented analysis guide. Detailed rules are given in order to systematic...