Multiple levels of reconfiguration for robust cells formed using modular machines

Abstract

In this paper, an approach is presented to design machine cells using modular machines to achieve characteristics of reconfigurable manufacturing. Modular machines considered in the present model are reconfigurable and consists of basic and auxiliary modules. Similarity measures among machines based on production flow and auxiliary module requirements are developed. Machine cells are identified using multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for parts with known volumes of production, alternative operation-based process plans, etc. A robust solution is identified using multiple Pareto optimal solutions resulted from the evolutionary algorithm for several production scenarios. The two objective functions considered during the optimisation are minimisation of inter-cell movement of parts and total changes in auxiliary modules for the required production. Simulations are conducted to find the effect of different levels of reconfiguration on the performance measures and a methodology for selecting the best level of reconfiguration is discussed.