Abstract

MCLEAN, R.R.P.; PADAYACHEE, J.  and  BRIGHT, G.. A thin, hardware-supported middleware management system for reconfigurable manufacturing systems. S. Afr. J. Ind. Eng. [online]. 2015, vol.26, n.1, pp.207-223. ISSN 2224-7890.

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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