Identification of scheduling problems for CSCW-based shop floor control in agile manufacturing

Numerous solution methods for scheduling problems such as part dispatching problem, operation sequence problem have been suggested as a means to be embedded in hierarchical or centralized shop floor control. Under the preceding control philosophies, however, response to changes in the shop floor status is quite slow and timely decision is sometimes impossible. Moreover, the control software becomes too large and it is almost impossible to modify the control software when the configuration of the shop floor changes. In agile manufacturing which emerged recently to cope with quick response and easy modifiability when unexpected changes occur, a new control policy is needed. CSCW[Computer Supported Cooperative Work] based shop floor control casts a different view on scheduling problems. Decisions are made locally when requested and useful information is scattered among agents for its efficient use. Adaptation is easy because agents are -'plug compatible or portable. In this paper, scheduling problems occurring under CSCW based shop floor control are identified and characterized. Traditional scheduling problems are reviewed from the CSCW viewpoint. All the control entities involved in the shop floor can be found and used to defined agents. With these entities and CSCW concept, possible scheduling problems are identified.