Fuzzy Gilmore and Gomory Algorithm: Application in Robotic Flow Shops with the Effects of Job-dependent Transportation and Set-ups

This paper addresses the scheduling of robotic cells with job-dependent transportation and set-up effects with fuzzy methodology. Since transportation and set-up times are a large portion of the production time in a flexible manufacturing cell, ignoring these parameters may cause significant errors in determining the optimal makespan. Furthermore, determining the exact values of these time parameters is a challenging task. To overcome this problem, we represent these parameters using fuzzy L-R numbers. Using the capability of fuzzy numbers to model approximate values, we can represent these parameters without losing valuable information. For generating the optimal part sequencing in the cells, the Gilmore and Gomory algorithm is modified, and instead, a fuzzy Gilmore and Gomory algorithm is developed. We compare the results of the proposed fuzzy method with those of crisp ones. The results indicate the superiority of the proposed algorithm in terms of robustness, flexibility, and reduction of makespan.

Diseño e implementación de una Interfaz de Control para la Integración de una Celda de Manufactura Flexible

In modern industry, flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) are indispensable to increase productivity and product quality. The cells that constitute them have several work stations connected to each other through a communication protocol, therefore, with which they are able to identify and distinguish between the different parts or products processed in the system. Furthermore, they have the ability of adaptation to the demand of processing different products and quantities. In the FMS communication protocols are used such as Device Net, Ethernet, among others. However, there are cases in which there are no communication modules; however, it is necessary to develop alternative devices to communicate the work stations with each other to integrate a flexible manufacturing cell with the necessary characteristics. This paper presents the results obtained from the study of infrastructure for the development of a communication interface to integrate a flexible manufacturing cell using a microcontroller, with the capability of communicating two work stations. In this particular case, a FANUC M6iB robot with a HAAS VF2 machining center.