Implementation of fuzzy logic in scheduling a flexible manufacturing system

Abstract

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) has the advantage that it can easily adapt to equipment malfunctions and changes in the quantity or type of the product being processed. Proper scheduling is critical for production planning in order to meet customer demand. The case study organisation has been facing challenges in meeting due dates while concurrently minimising lead time and maximising machine utilisation. This paper presents the deployment of fuzzy logic in scheduling a flexible manufacturing system. The proposed approach identifies scheduling parameters for routing parts through system and membership functions and fuzzy rules are constructed to develop the best schedule using a toolbox on a MATLAB fuzzy logic platform. After comparison of several priority rules for job sequencing, the results demonstrated the applicability of fuzzy logic as a decision tool in the scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems.