A Dynamic Approach to Multi-stage Job Shop Scheduling in an Industry 4.0-Based Flexible Assembly System

Abstract

Industry 4.0 technology is based on the concepts of flexibility and dynamic assembly system design. This enables new production strategies and creates new challenges for job shop scheduling. In particular, manufacturing processes for different customer orders may have individual machine structures whereas the flexible stations are able to execute different functions subject to individual sets of operations within the jobs. This study develops a control approach to job shop scheduling in a customized manufacturing process and job sequencing of operations within the jobs. The developed approach presents a contribution to flexible distributed scheduling in the emerging field of Industry 4.0-based innovative production systems.