Application of software reuse and object-oriented methodologies for the modelling and control of manufacturing systems

In this paper object-oriented design and the application of software reuse of components of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) will be introduced. The goal of this research is to provide methods and tools to build up FMS simulation models and control strategies easily, fast and reliably. As a software tool the SALMS reuse repository and its application will be demonstrated. The design methodology used for model development is based on the object-oriented Rational Rose CASE tool and on the use-case design of the OOSE methodology. A hybrid simulation and scheduling system (SSS) is used to validate and evaluate all results. SSS has been implemented as a combination of a traditional simulation/animation system (SIMAN/Cinema) and an intelligent expert environment (G2). The application of the real-time, intelligent G2 environment points to one of our R and D goals, to create intelligent, real-time control of FMS. Reuse in SIMAN/Cinema and in G2 will be analysed separately and together in general, and in the context of FMS. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.