Simulation as a decision-making tool for real-time control of flexible manufacturing systems

Describes the use of discrete event simulation as the decision-making component of a shop floor control system for flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). The control software is the critical component that determines the operational efficiency of an FMS and the decision-making component largely determines the overall flexibility of the system. A methodology for the development, maintenance, and operation of FMS based on this control system is presented and implementation experience in a full-scale FMS laboratory is provided.