Innovative Production Machines and Systems Conference

Dear Eldaw,

thank you for your questions.

It is planned to have another test in a production environment of FIDIA. A first one has been done at CRF already last year.
For a real production plant, the integrated system is too complex to be deployed in the frame of a research project. It will take a lot of effort to make a decentralized control system running on a "real" production plant with many machines and systems connected. As the paradigm is new and also specific systems like the robotic system, Fatronik SMART system for machine access and others are part of the full INT-MANUS system, it is to cost-intensive and dangerous for a manufacturing company to switch to a completely new system of production.

Regarding EFM, it will be possible to show the components of the system and also the demonstration setup. While a "real-life" presentation is only possible in a workshop, an online-presentation will be prepared using different media. If possible, a demonstrator of the peer system will be created especially for EFM, at least demonstrating the capabilities of the system. As a "live" test would require installing a lot of software and also a lot of IT know-how, we will be working on a scenario that makes it easier to see how the system works.

Kind regards,
Thomas

Dear Zuhriah,

1- The MCS provides three operating modes,the Global View Mode, the Local View Mode and the Product View Mode.
The Product View Mode allows an operator can send a command to SCCP for scheduling its production according to his selected part/product.
Is the mode necessary?
In my understanding, the production scheduling is controlled by the PPC. The operators has to follow the schedule not to ask for the schedule.
What kind of scenario that this mode is needed?

Answer:
The special thing about SCCP is that it is organized in a decentralized way. This means that there cannot exist a standardized PPC system that centrally plans everything (imagine a logistics chain or a virtual enterprise where control is distributed as well as planning). For this reason, Fraunhofer IAIS (our partner) has implemented the Mobile Control System (MCS) to answer these requirements and locally introducing control over the production system, including the introduction of new lots for example. This is also a reason why the system is not fully compatible with existing central MES and PPC and (as I answerd also to Dr Eldukhri) is not easy to apply in current environments.

2- Similarly, the output from the VRSC will be sent to the SCCP for rescheduling of production process.
In the future mfg. scenario in the unpredictable market demands, is the frequent production rescheduling one of the solution?
It may usable but may be up to certain extend such as total quantity of the same product only where there has already room for additional quantity in the production process.

Answer:
You are right, this is problem of local optimization. Where no central control is possible and conditions change very frequently (including rapid reconfiguration and just-in-time production), the approach is viable as opposed to central ones, but it brings the problems with it that you have mentioned. And of course central scheduling can produce more accurate results (but changes also have a stronger impact) - and room for additonal quantity of course has to be there otherwise additional time is needed.

3- What type of industries that the SCCP is most effective to be apply at?
Answer:
It is a good answer to the need for mass customization, rapid reconfiguration and non-central organisations like highly integrated logistics chains.
Regarding the two dimensions quantity (of products produced) + automation and (second) the amount of variants / product types, it is optimal for high amount of variants and high quanitity+automation. If you have only one product, it is produced in a mass production system. If you have a different product each time which may be even made my hand, there is no need for processes and automation. So medium to large companies wir a lot of variants will benefit most.

I hope I understood you questions right and answered as you expected.

Kind regards,
Thomas

It means in the case of decentralised PPC especially for the customised products, the orders will be directly posted to the operator. Am I right?

;)
zuhriah

Dear Authors,

The Smart Connected Control Platform (SCCP) for controlling a production plant is a new concept, and it covers many issues in the production and manufacturing area. My comments and questions are as follows.

Comment and question No.1 :

The more units or systems introduced to the production and manufacturing system, the more challenges and difficulties for the decision making process that we have to face. In the proposed the Smart Connected Control Platform (SCCP), the issues related to control and the integration of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Software, and Production are complex. My question is that, in the INT-MANUS project, are there any work- packages dealing with the decision making levels and processes for the technical problems, human resources management, material resources management (MRP) as well as work-flow control?

Comment and question No.2 :

The concepts of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) and Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) have been introduced for a long time, and they also focus on the flexibility and adaptability for the control of the production and manufacturing system. Are there any links or similarities or integration between FMS, CIM and the proposed the Smart Connected Control Platform (SCCP)?

Many thanks,

Hieu-Le, the MEC, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.

Comment and question No.1 :
>>>>
There are tasks that deal with decision support. INT-MANUS final prototype will contain a system to support decisions on maintenance, tuning etc. of machines based on values from test and learning from decisions of operators / supervisors / technical personnel. As the whole descision making field is very complex and broad, INT-MANUS deals only with basic problems of this kind. The decentralized platform itself has a lot of implications on most aspects of current production systems.

Comment and question No.2 :
>>>>
As you say CIM is a rather old concept and identifies more generally production systems that use computing technology in manufacturing. Also, a lot of FMS concepts exist and are of course relevant and overlapping / integrating with INT-MANUS concepts. Although, the decentralized and ontological approach of applying object-oriented principles from computer science to a production system in INT-MANUS is new. Therefore, the focus was not on how to develop a lot of new production concepts but using a new paradigm to create a new kind of technological infrastructure that supports Flexible Manufacturing and CIM concepts in a changing environment (Virtual Enterprises, JIT logistics etc.).

Not necessarily the orders. But for each order one or more process instances are created that lead to the production of the ordered product. Generally we do not use lots anymore (which would although be possible) but with each process instance, we follow one product (or more exactly: its parts) through the whole production process. Preserving indentity-based information about the whole history of a production produced. This also gives the possibility to interfere with the production workflow and information for each single product in a order.

Sorry for the delay in answering - I was away...

Best regards,
Thomas