1. Steps of Manufacturing System Design Algorithm
There are six (excluding Step-0; Initialization) total steps of this
algorithm. Each step is explained via a flow chart in below.
Step-0:
Objective: The key purpose of this step is to initialize the
process. Based on below classification the first process plan is
initialized at the first structure at the first post.
The following classifications take place in this step:
Rank the operations based on their precedence/anteriority.
Rank the operations based on their posteriority (No. of
Successors)
Grouping based on similar spindle direction with the
operation under consideration.
. Grouping based on alternate spindle direction with the
operation under consideration.
Grouping based on similar feature axis with the operation
under consideration.
Grouping based on similar operation type with the
operation under consideration.
2. Step-01:
Objective: The key objective is find out which operation(s)
can be performed next on this post based on their
precedence/anteriority and posteriority.
Flow Chart:
Initialization
Post = 1
Structure = 1
Process Plan = 1
For each generated process Plan, Find out operation(s)
having zero precedence, Pr = 0 (No operation should lead)
For each generated process Plan, Choose operation(s)
having maximum posteriority (Max. successors)
For each generated process plan, add a new branch with
maximum posteriority and active branch from the process
plan list.
For each process plan, keep updating the list of process
plan, list of operations, and active branches.
3. Step-02:
Objective: The key purpose of this step is to look for the possibility
of performing other operation(s), at the same post with the same
structure.
Flow Chart:
For each generated process plan, Sort out operation(s)
having zero precedence, max. Posteriority, same
operation type, similar spindle direction, and same
movement axis with operation under consideration.
Is there any
such
operation
exist?????
No
Proceed
to Next
Step.
Yes
Add a new branch for each of the selected
set of operation.
Generate a new process Plan by copying
the active branch and the newly assigned
operation
4. Step-3:
Objective: The key objective of this step is to look for the
possibility of operation(s) that can be performed simultaneously
with the operations already identified in step-1 & 2.
Flow chart:
For each alternative process plan, choose
operation(s) from the list of zero
precedence operations having alternative
spindle direction
Is the
operation set
is empty??
No
Proceed
to Next
Step.
Yes
Subdivide OPj in subsets having same
spindle direction and similar operation.
Add a new branch
Generate new process plan(s) by copying the
active branch and the assigned Ops.
5. Step-05:
Objective: The key goal of this step is to propose a rotation of
the piece based on the structure and machining feature’s
orientations. We sort out operations having alternative spindle
directions than the solution under consideration.
Flow Chart:
For each generated alternative process plan, eliminate the already
assigned operations. Redefine the precedence of remaining
operations and sort out operations with max. Posteriority.
For each generated alternative process plan and each structure of
the under consideration, find operation having alternative spindle
direction and same operation type as that of already assigned.
For each generated alternative process plan and each structure of
the under consideration, find operation having alternative spindle
direction and same operation type as that of already assigned.
Is the
operation Set
is Empty?
Subdivide Operations into similar
spindle direction and same operation
No
Proceed
to Next
Step.
Yes
Add new branch(es)
Generate New Process plan(s)
6. Step-06:
Objective: The key goal of this step is to define the entire
solution space for the manufacturing system design. We
look for any other possible solution that can be performed
at the same post by tool change and/or piece rotation.
Flow Chart:
Step-06
Is process plan
–N different
from Process
Plan-1?
Go to
Step 4
& 5
Go to
Step 5
& 4
Yes Yes
Results
No
7. Step-04:
Objective: The key goal of this step is to find out operation(s)
which can be performed after tool change and/or spindle change.
Flow Chart:
For each generated alternative process plan, eliminate the already
assigned operations. Redefine the precedence of remaining
operations and sort out operations with max. Posteriority.
For each alternative process plan, find out operation(s) having
similar spindle direction and axis to the Operation already assigned
to the post under consideration.
Is the operation
set is empty??
No
Proceed
to Next
Step.
Yes
For each alternative process plan, find operation(s)
having same spindle direction and axis to the
Operation already assigned to the post under
consideration.
Add one or more branch (es), copy the branches
already generated in step 3 and complete the set.
Generate one or more process plans in the process
plan list by copying the active branches and already
assigned operations.
