An adaptive SVM-based real-time scheduling mechanism and simulation for multiple-load carriers in automobile assembly lines

Abstract

Multiple-load carriers are widely introduced for material delivery in manufacturing systems. The real-time scheduling of multiple-load carriers is so complex that it deserves attention to pursue higher productivity and better system performance. In this paper, a support vector machine (SVM)-based real-time scheduling mechanism was proposed to tackle the scheduling problem of parts replenishment with multiple-load carriers in automobile assembly plants under dynamic environment. The SVM-based scheduling mechanism was trained first and then used to make the optimal real-time decisions between "wait" and "deliver" on the basis of real-time system states. An objective function considering throughput and delivery distances was established to evaluate the system performance. Moreover, a simulation model in eM-Plant software was developed to validate and compare the proposed SVM-based scheduling mechanism with the classic minimum batch size (MBS) heuristic. It simulated both the steady and dynamic environments which are characterized by the uncertainty of demands or scheduling criteria. The simulation results demonstrated that the SVM-based scheduling mechanism could dynamically make optimal real-time decisions for multiple-load carriers and outperform the MBS heuristic as well.

Research on the Scheduling of Mobile Robots in Mixed-Model Assembly Lines Considering Workstation Satisfaction and Energy Consumption

“…As a necessary production component, part feeding consumes a significant amount of energy and incurs high costs. With the rapid advancement of manufacturing intelligence and the widespread use of robots CoBots [11] and CreBots of Sigloch, a German logistics company, an increasing number of manufacturing companies are replacing traditional tow trains and multiple-load carriers [12] with mobile robots to increase part feeding efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Currently, the mobile robot is capable of safe obstacle avoidance, path planning, and other functions.…”

Simulation analysis of fire truck scheduling strategies for fighting oil fires

“…The eM-pant simulation tool has been extensively used for research on the simulation of assembly lines, path optimization scheduling of AVGs (Automated Guided Vehicles), scheduling of terminal containers and so on (Zhang & He, 2011;Zhou & Xu, 2017;Viharos & Németh, 2018;Ao et al, 2019), but there are only few researches on the scheduling of fire trucks. Because of its graphical working environment, layer structure, modularization, object-oriented modeling and simple model control, eMplant deserves better/more application in emergency response analysis.…”

A novel optimized cyclic part feeding system with line-integrated supermarkets

“…In general, parts are prepared in supermarkets 18,25 and transported to specific stations by means of automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), tow-trains or milk-run systems. [26][27][28] In this aspect, complex issues involving location planning, route optimization, towtrains scheduling and loading [29][30][31] interrelate with each other and have aroused great attention.…”