Development and Numerical Optimization of a System of Integrated Agents for Serial Production Lines

Abstract

In modern high-volume industries, the serial production line (SPL) is of growing importance due to the inexorable increase in the complexity of manufacturing systems and the associated production costs. Optimal decisions regarding buffer size and the selection of components when designing and implementing an SPL can be difficult, often requiring complex analytical models, which can be difficult to conceive and construct. Here, we propose a model to evaluate and optimize the design of an SPL, integrating numerical simulation with artificial intelligence (AI). Numerous studies relating to the design of SPL systems have been published, but few have considered the simultaneous consideration of a number of decision variables. Indeed, the authors have been unable to locate in the published literature even one work that integrated the selection of components with the optimization of buffer sizes into a single framework. In this research, a System of Integrated Agents Numerical Optimization (SIGN) is developed by which the SPL design can be optimized. A SIGN consists of a components selection system and a decision support system. A SIGN aids the selection of machine tools, buffer sizes, and robots via the integration of AI and simulations. Using a purpose-developed interface, a user inputs the appropriate SPL parameters and settings, selects the decision-making and optimization techniques to use, and then displays output results. It will be implemented in open-source software to broaden the impact of the SIGN and extend its influence in industry and academia. It is expected that the results of this research project will significantly influence open-source manufacturing system design and, consequently, industrial and economic development.