A THIN, HARDWARE-SUPPORTED MIDDLEWARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR RECONFIGURABLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

Authors

  • Roscoe Roy Peter McLean University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Jared Padayachee University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Glen Bright University of KwaZulu-Natal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/26-1-1034

Keywords:

Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems, Middleware

Abstract

The reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) paradigm was introduced in response to the need for a manufacturing environment that can handle high-frequency market-driven change. Although this has resulted in much research into the implementation of such a system, there is currently a gap in the technology covering the rapid establishment of control after a reconfiguration. This gap involves the detection of the factory floor’s state, and the communication link between the factory floor and the high-level software (ERP and MES). This paper proposes a thin, hardware-supported middleware management system to support the reconfiguration process and to support industrial implementation to the RMS paradigm.

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Author Biographies

Roscoe Roy Peter McLean, University of KwaZulu-Natal

MSc Eng (Mechanical) Student

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jared Padayachee, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Lecturer

Department of Engineering

Glen Bright, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Department Head and Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

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Published

2015-05-08

How to Cite

McLean, R. R. P., Padayachee, J., & Bright, G. (2015). A THIN, HARDWARE-SUPPORTED MIDDLEWARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR RECONFIGURABLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS. The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 26(1), 207–223. https://doi.org/10.7166/26-1-1034

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2015)

Section

General Articles

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