Fuzzy Petri net-based optimum scheduling of FMS with human factors

This paper presents a fuzzy Petri net used to model a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) with human factors. The human factors discussed are the total operation time, the product quality and the labor cost. The optimum schedule for the FMS is determined using the fuzzy reasoning algorithm. The discussion focusses on the basic ideas of how to use fuzzy Petri nets to model and schedule a FMS with human operators. Fuzzy Petri nets and associated fuzzy reasoning algorithm adopted in this work is based on the result of Chen et al. (1990). We demonstrate a simple FMS which deals with 2 job types associated with 2 processes each, 3 machines and 2 types of operators.