Distributed product and facility prototyping in extended manufacturing enterprises

Citation
Sm. Ratchev et al., Distributed product and facility prototyping in extended manufacturing enterprises, INT J PROD, 38(17), 2000, pp. 4495-4506
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Engineering Management /General
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
ISSN journal
00207543 → ACNP
Volume
38
Issue
17
Year of publication
2000
Pages
4495 - 4506
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-7543(200011)38:17<4495:DPAFPI>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
In order to reduce the cost at the early product development stages, the pl anners need methodologies and tools that would allow them to judge upon the implications of the product design on the required manufacturing processes and facilities for their production. This paper reports on a new theoretic al platform and a pilot implementation of a decision-making environment for distributed product and facility prototyping in an extended enterprise. Th e approach is based on an exchange of requests and information between coll aborative autonomous agents that support the design, manufacturing planning and facility formation activities. The decision-making is formalized as it erative matching of design, process and facility attributes using multileve l resource capability representation within the extended enterprise. The sy stem is implemented as an XML/CORBA-based environment for conveying design and manufacture messages across traditional technology boundaries. The repo rted research aims to provide the designers with a rapid manufacturing feas ibility assessment tool to be used at different design and planning stages in extended manufacturing enterprises.