A control design strategy of a reconfigurable manufacturing system

A Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS) is defined as one that can provide adaptability to quickly adjust the production capacity and functionality in response to fluctuations in customer demand. An advanced analytical modelling approach and control design strategy is introduced to improve the system responsiveness of multistage feedback control RMS. A System Dynamics (SD)-based multistage RMS model is mathematically translated into block diagram representations and transfer functions. A control design technique called Root-Locus is presented to propose a new operation management policy to better predict and control the dynamic responses of a RMS in reduction of inventory and Lead-Time (LT). By applying this graphic view approach, one can improve the RMS responsiveness and also determine its relative system stability without iterative trial-and-error simulation replications as found in discrete event simulation and SD approach. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.