Distributed autonomous real-time planning and control of small to medium enterprises

The research reported in this paper is built on the use of the concepts of 'holonic manufacturing' and is seeking new methods to reinforce the autonom ous and cooperative attributes of planning and control activities within hu man centred manufacturing facilities. It is claimed that in small enterpris es, where the success depends on the skill of individual employees and thei r ability to collaborate, the manufacturing performance can be improved by the use of the appropriate information technology (IT) tools and the approp riate planning and control structure, designed and developed on the basis o f these holonic concepts. Such novel tools and planning structures must pro vide the most appropriate information in a way that enhances collaborative activity within the business and strengthens the role of the individual. Th is paper identifies a number of major requirements that must be considered for the design and implementation of an effective production planning and c ontrol (PPC) structure, tailored for the needs of small enterprises. Based on these requirements and the use of holonic manufacturing concepts, a nove l distributed autonomous real-time planning and control structure is presen ted. The final sections of the paper describe the implementation of such a planning and control structure within a typical configuration for the produ ction facility of a small metalworking enterprise.