Use of a Simulation Environment and Metaheuristic Algorithm for Human Resource Management in a Cyber-Physical System

Abstract

At the time of Industry 4.0 and the emergence of collaborative workplaces based on the cooperation of robots (machines) and humans, the number of human workplaces in the Industry 4.0 production system is crucial. In this chapter, we present the use of the evolutionary computation methods that use the input data of a real production system and transfer it through the five-stage Cyber-Physical System architecture into the simulation environment in order to determine the optimal number of workers. By using these methods, we confirm the hypothesis of the importance of correctly determining the number of workers in the manufacturing process in Industry 4.0. Number of workers’ determination has a key influence on the product flow time, machine utilization and cost-effectiveness of a production system. Research results show the importance and effectiveness of combining evolutionary computation methods and simulation modelling for the purpose of implementing the advanced approaches of Industry 4.0. The demonstrated approach of combining evolutionary computing, simulation environments and methods of Industry 4.0 can be used from mass customization to mass production systems for the purpose of single-criteria or multi-criteria optimization.