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Soft-computing algorithms as a tool for the planning of cyclically interlinked production lines

  • Production Management
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Abstract

The planning and configuration of complex flexible production lines—cyclically interlinked systems—cover numerous aspects and various possibilities. It is not possible to determine the applicability and characteristics for each of these variations by applying already existing planning methods. This paper outlines an innovative approach to this problem, which is based on the application of learning algorithms such as artificial neural networks. The iterative design process of a production line is initiated by a customer request. An initial layout is usually planned by an engineer and considered in a forecast system, which classifies the layout as stable or unstable. In case of stable layouts, the performance and cost values are visualized with operating figures. On this basis, the engineer is able to evaluate the layout. If the result is not satisfactory, new production line layouts are generated by modifying the overruled layout and another iteration begins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IPH – Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover gGmbH, Hannover, Germany

    Hans Kurt Tönshoff, Steffen Reinsch & Jens Dreyer

Authors
  1. Hans Kurt Tönshoff
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  2. Steffen Reinsch
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  3. Jens Dreyer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jens Dreyer.

Additional information

The research described in this paper is part of the project “Methode zur Planung komplexer, produktionstechnischer Anlagen mit zyklischer Verkettung” funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). It is a is cooperation project between IPH – Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover gGmbH and Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik (FAPS) of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg.

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Tönshoff, H.K., Reinsch, S. & Dreyer, J. Soft-computing algorithms as a tool for the planning of cyclically interlinked production lines. Prod. Eng. Res. Devel. 1, 389–394 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-007-0062-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-007-0062-4

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