An interaction/prediction approach to solving problems of production planning in flexible automation workshops

The present paper deals with hierarchical production planning in flexible automation workshops (FAWs). A mathematical model of hierarchical production planning (HPP) in FAWs is built up. The interaction/prediction approach is then applied to solving the problem of HPP and to deducing the corresponding algorithm in detail. The algorithm has been employed to develop the software package known as interaction/prediction algorithm (IPA), with the aid of which, we have researched into examples of HPP and FAWs. In this paper, the use of the algorithm is presented in detail through one of the examples. As compared with the existing HPP approaches, the algorithm here is more applicable to decomposing optimally medium-term plans assigned to an FAW by CIMS/MRP II into short-term plans executed by FMSs in the FAW.