Expert System for Process Selection and Operation Optimization
Expert System for Process Selection and Operation Optimization
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Date
1986
Authors
Kar, Amit
Advisor
Pandelidis, Ioannis
Citation
DRUM DOI
Abstract
The working of an Expert System, PRODUCER, conceived as
part of a CIM system for a plant manufacturing discreteparts,
is presented.
PRODUCER starts out by determining if the desired part
can be produced. Based on part attributes it then decides
on a specific manufacturing process, e.g., Welding, Casting,
Forging or Machining. Having selected the process, PRODUCER
establishes the particular operation.
With the operation decided, PRODUCER proceeds to find
all the feasible combinations, of equipment and tools, that
could produce the desired component. The turning operation
has been chosen to demonstrate PRODUCER's capabilities.
PRODUCER then sets about the task of identifying the
most optimal pair of machine-tool and cutting-tool, which
will provide the highest Metal Removal Rate, MRR. This is
accomplished at two levels. At the higher level, PRODUCER
generates constraints, representing physical limitations of
the cutting process, for each machine and tool combination.
These constraints are then passed on to an Optimization program. This is a Fortran program, which operates at a lower level, and returns the optimum values of the process
control variables, for each machine-tool and cutting-tool
combination. PRODUCER finally yields the highest
maximization of the MRR. In doing so it also identifies the
particular machine-tool and cutting-tool associated with
this global optimum.
PRODUCER, essentially a knowledge-based production
system, implemented in the First Order Predicate Logic
language of Prolog, also enables intelligent adaptive
control.