Georges Habchi

Application of a continuous supervisory fuzzy control on a discrete scheduling of manufacturing systems

This paper considers the design and the practical implementation of a stable multiple objective real-time scheduling problem for a complex production system. In this paper, a complex production system is viewed as a kind of systems producing a variety of products (multiple-part-type) under constraints and multiple production objectives often conflicting. Previously, fuzzy control theory and fuzzy intervals arithmetic have been used to develop a distributed and supervised continuous-flow control architecture. In this framework, the objective of the distributed control structure is to balance the production process by adjusting the continuous production rates of the machines on the basis of the average local behavior. The supervisory control methodology aims at maintaining the overall performances within acceptable limits. In the new proposed approach, the problem of a stable real-time scheduling of jobs is considered at the shop-floor level. In this context, as the stability of the control structure is ensured, the actual dispatching times are determined from the continuous production rates through a discretization procedure. To deal with conflicts between jobs at a shared machine, a decision is made. It concerns the actual part to be processed and uses some criterions representing a measure of the jobs priority. The simulation results show the validity of the proposed approach in terms of production cost, robustness and system stability.

A multi-agent knowledge model for SMEs mechatronic supply chains

The main concern of this research work is to analyse and model supply chains (SCs) in the particular context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the field of mechatronic. The study is based on the analysis of the organisational features, the actors’ behaviour, and performance considerations. The development of the model relies on an iterative framework that progressively integrates different aspects into the model. This framework is the ArchMDE process, which is based on MDE (Model Driven Engineering). A major feature of this work lies in its contribution to two different areas of research. The first contribution of the work is to propose a generic metamodel for SCs. Based on a literature review, an incremental framework is proposed for the modelling of SCs in terms of concepts, structure and relationships. The application of the framework to the studied context is described and its result is a domain-metamodel for SCs. The second contribution of this work lies in the formalisation of the dynamic behaviour of the concepts in the metamodel. This formalisation is based on the multi-agent approach. An agentification of the metamodel is thus drawn, thanks to the natural links between multiagent theory and SC reality. This step leads to an agentified-domain-metamodel which also includes the monitoring of the SC and synchronisation protocols. By adding relationships and dynamic behavior aspects, we obtain a metamodel of the domain that can be implemented, with its static and dynamic aspects. To validate this model, an industrial case study is detailed and has been instantiated and encoded in JAVA.

A conceptual model for SMEs mechatronics supply chain

Nowadays, in order to meet the demands of the global dynamic market and eliminate its disturbances, the supply chain and its integration across different organisations has become a competitive business advantage along the production processes. In particular, the mechatronic industry is very sensitive to these requirements. Our research deals with modelling the supply chain in order to manage and implement a simulation platform. Basically, we develop a modelling solution for an industrial environment composed of mechatronic small and medium enterprises (SMEs) located in Savoie (France). The study is based on elements from real applications and the SMEs network organisation. An analysis of the domain helped us to develop concepts and a modelling approach adapted to these companies. In this work, we present the area studied, the methodology used to construct the conceptual model of the supply chain, its structure and management rules. Then, we present the model obtained. Finally, we apply this conceptual model to a case study.

A Multiagent Approach for Modelling SMEs Mechatronic Supply Chains

Abstract This paper presents the application of the multiagent system for modelling supply chains involving Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the mechatronic industry. This work is a combination of two research scopes. The first one deals with the identification of the different concepts able to model the particular manufacturing systems and production context in Savoie – France. The second one outlines the development process based on an agent modelling approach, which offers an easy and reusable modelling of supply chain concepts.

Multiagent Decision Making For SME Supply Chain Simulation.

To tackle the complexity and heterogeneity of the networks that integrate Mechatronic SMEs, this paper describes a modelling and simulation solution based on multiagent system and ArchMDE (Architecture Model Drive Engineering) methodology for supply chain agentification. This research work outlines two main results: conceptualisation and modelling. The first one deals with the identification and concepts definition of the different entities moving and acting into the multiagent and supply chain systems. The second one discusses the agent approach providing a framework naturally oriented to model supply chain concepts and their dynamic behavior.

A new way to identify critical resources by combining human and machine data

In business management, the identification of high priority resources represents an important issue. In this paper we developed a new method based on a multi-criteria approach to identify critical resources. Eight prioritisation criteria involved in the companys global performance are proposed. The originality of our method is to take into account both material and human resources of company. Accordingly, a human-machine availability including the versatility of machine-operators is developed. We applied our method in a French screw cutting company. One great interest in identifying critical resources is helping managers to focus more effectively on resources that penalise the companys global performance.

A Generic Knowledge Model for SME Supply Chain Based on Multiagent Paradigm

This chapter is dedicated to the generation of an agentified knowledge model for modeling and simulation of the supply chain in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) context. For this purpose, the organization of this work is directed by the ArchMDE development process which is founded on Model Driving Engineering (MDE). The fundamental contributions concern two research areas. The first one concerning the industrial engineering scope, proposes a generic domain meta-model (i.e. supply chain integrating SME) identifying the functional concepts and their properties. The second one considering the computer engineering scope, highlights all steps necessary to integrate the dynamic behaviour into the domain meta-model built according to the multi-agent technology. In this perspective, this chapter describes the outcome of these artefacts from the study of the domain through the agentification process, to the implementation of the knowledge model.