M. Vallauri

Manufacturing Algebra: a new mathematical tool for discrete-event modelling of manufacturing systems

The Manufacturing Algebra was developed during several years of research and more recently within the ESPRIT Basic Research HIMAC-8141 (Hierarchical Management and Control of Manufacturing Systems). For a comprehensive list of publications see the enclosed References. The Manufacturing Algebra is a methodology specifically conceived for investigating and modelling discrete manufacturing systems at various degrees of accuracy. Such an endeavour was motivated by the apparent limitations of the current approaches-first of all Queueing Theory and Petri Nets-whenever applied to the field of engineering here considered. In fact they were adapted to manufacturing problems, but not originally tailored to meet their requirements, whereas that is an essential feature of the Manufacturing Algebra.

Factory modelling and production control

AbstractFactory modelling is a mathematical description in terms of state equations of the dynamics of factory facilities, such as machines, transport devices and stores, where manufacturing processes are actuated by a production control system to yield market- or customer-oriented products.Factory modelling is preliminary to the design of the production control system, i.e. of the set of devices and rules that allow a manufacturing system (the whole of factory facilities and their feasible manufacturing processes) to track with the least possible error a variable product mix.Although several methodologies for modelling factory dynamics have been worked out and implemented in recent years, no systematic approach for production control design, based on state equations, has so far been available. Hence a new modelling framework has been worked out and its foundations are presented in this paper.