Architecture Framework for Manufacturing System Design

Abstract

An architecture framework which establishes a common practice for creating, analyzing and representing manufacturing systems during design and re-design processes is proposed. This paper includes a study of the main architecture frameworks and their use within a systematic design process for manufacturing systems. A class diagram is related to a physical architectural framework with manufacturing system components taxonomies that support it; it is applicable to manufacturing systems including RMS (Reconfigurable Manufacturing System). As product development life cycle becomes shorter and shorter, a systematic, structured and effective approach is needed to design or reconfigure the manufacturing system as needed. The proposed framework is comprehensive and specifies the system representation from various levels and dimensions. This paper considers not only abstract and general representation, but also illustration examples to represent manufacturing systems designs.