An Intelligent Manufacturing System for Predictive Scheduling and Reactive Scheduling

This research introduces an intelligent, distributed approach for predictive scheduling and reactive scheduling. Product descriptions and their manufacturing requirements are represented using a feature-based modeling scheme. Manufacturing resources, including facilities and persons, are modeled as agents. In predictive scheduling, the optimal production schedule is identified through heuristic search and agent-based negotiation. In reactive scheduling, the original schedule is modified for responding to the changes of orders and resources through a match-up approach and agent-based negotiation, when the original schedule cannot be accomplished due to these changes.