Knowledge-based decision support system for tool management in flexible manufacturing system

Tool management is not a single, simple activity, it is comprised of a complex set of functions, especially in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) environment. The issues associated with tool management include tool requirement planning, tool real-time scheduling, tool crib management, tool inventory control, tool fault diagnosis, tool tracking and tool monitoring. In order to make tools flow into/out of FMS efficiently, this work is aimed to design a knowledge-based decision support system (KBDSS) for tool management in FMS. Firstly an overview of tool management functions is described. Then the structure of KBDSS for tool management and the essential agents in the design of KBDSS are presented. Finally the individual agents of KBDSS are discussed for design and development.