Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Computing and Engineering and Dept. of Mathematics. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2005. / "A dissertation in engineering and mathematics." Advisor: Ghulam Chaudhry. Typescript. Vita. Title from "catalog record" of the print edition Description based on contents viewed June 26, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 341-346 ). Online version of the print edition.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Toledo, 2005. / Typescript. "A dissertation [submitted] as partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering." Bibliography: leaves 90-99.

München, Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2002.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-206). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Thesis (M.E.T.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-70). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Zugl.: Passau, Universiẗat, Diss., 2006.

Analysis of flexible manufacturing cells (FMCs) shows their requirement for flexible, correct, reliable, safe and distributed control. A comparison of the state of the art in software engineering for parallel systems, and an examination of safety related systems, reveal a need for formal and rigorous techniques at all stages in the software life cycle. However, parallel software, safety related software and formal techniques are complex. It is better to avoid faults rather than eliminate or tolerate them, and although less flexible, avoidance is often simpler to implement. There is a need for a tool which overcomes many of these complexities, and this thesis discusses and defines such a tool in the form of a methodology. The novelty of the work is in the combination of the core goals to manage these issues, and how the strategies guide the user to a solution which will not deadlock and which is comprehensible. Place-transition Petri nets are an ideal representation for designing and modelling the interaction of concurrent (and distributed) processes. Occam is a high level real time parallel language designed to execute on one or a network of transputers. Transputers are processing, memory and communication building blocks, and, together with occam, are shown to be suitable for controlling and communicating the control as the DCS in FMCs. The methodology developed in this thesis adopts the mathematically based tools of Petri nets, occam and transputers, and, by exploiting their structural similarities, incorporates them in a steps and tasks to improve the development of correct, reliable and hence safe occam code. The four steps: identify concurrent and sequential operations, produce Petri net graphs for all controllers, combine controller Petri net graphs and translate Petri net graphs into occam; are structured around three core goals: Petri net/occam equivalence, comprehensibility and pro-activity; which are manifest in four strategies: output-work-backwards, concurrent and sequential actions, structuralise and modularise, and deadlock avoidance. The methodology assists in all stages of the software development life cycle, and is applicable to small DCSs such as an FMC. The methodology begins by assisting in the creation of DCS requirements from the manufacturing requirements of the FMC, and guides the user to the production of dependable occam code. Petri nets allow the requirements to be specified as they are created, and the methodology's imposed restrictions enable the final Petri net design to be translated directly into occam. Thus the mathematics behind the formal tools is hidden from the user, which should be attractive to industry. The methodology is successfully applied to the example FMC, and occam code to simulate the FMC is produced. Due to the novelty of the research, many suggestions for further work are given.

The work reported in this thesis describes research carried out into the detailed design and operation of Flexible Machining Cells (FMC) incorporating automated work and tool flow, dual flow. Three modes of cell management are considered for dual flow cells, where the author examines both their operational and economic performance. A framework is defined for investigating these dual flow cells, and a structured approach providing a novel and detailed modelling capability is described. The question of how this approach compares to single flow modelling and the additional or alternative requirements for dual flow modelling is examined via the following key areas; the specification of material handling requirements, tool transportation and issue and finally, the control required to examine the interaction between the two flows operating concurrently. The framework is tested for its industrial applicability via an industrial case study. A major aim of this study is to examine the view that a hybrid cell management strategy, competitive management, could outperform the other strategies examined. The aim of this methodology is to provide a solution for the control of FMCs. Emphasis is placed on the ease of control and how the loading and control rules selection can maximise economic enhancement of a cells performance.

In the competitive field of metalworking industry, the planning of manufacturing systems so as to maximise their performance is crucial. The relatively new field of Flexible Manufacturing Systems presents a new set of planning challenges to the production engineer. This is due to the integrated nature of the these systems and the resultant effects upon their performance. This thesis presents a structured approach to the planning of materials flow within these systems and develops it by the analysis of several proposed manufacturing systems. The approach is based upon the use of mathematical and discrete event simulation techniques. The thesis gives the background to the need for a structured approach, investigates the parallel development of simulation languages and related techniques as applied to manufacturing facilities planning; and of the Flexible Manufacturing Systems themselves. The approach is then detailed and some specific types of planning tool are identified as suitable for use at each project stage. The effects upon the system of the integration of separate units, especially in low work in progress environments, are discussed in some detail. The methodology developed is then used in the context of three projects, specifically developing the theme of automated tool handling and the requirements that it places upon other aspects of a manufacturing system. The projects cover the analysis of pooling strategies, a key factor in determining tool magazine sizes and handling capacity/frequency demands; an academic analysis of a system with both component and tool handling systems; and an advanced Flexible Manufacturing System, also with both automated component and tool handling, which is currently being installed. Conclusions are presented at each stage, and these are drawn together to form a foundation for the planning of materials flow within Flexible Manufacturing Systems in general. Finally, suggestions are made for future work to develop the analysis.

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