Application of genetic algorithm to computer-aided process planning in distributed manufacturing systems

摘要

In a distributed manufacturing environment, factories possessing various machines and tools at different geographical locations are often selectively used to achieve the highest possible production efficiency. When jobs requiring a number of operations are received, several feasible process plans are produced from factories capable and available in meeting the specifications. Therefore, obtaining an optimal or near-optimal process plan becomes the main objective. This paper presents a modified genetic algorithm (GA), which, according to some prescribed criteria like minimizing processing time and/or cost, could swiftly search for the optimal process plan from several distributed manufacturing systems, and can perform multiobjectives optimization. One example is included to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the approach.