Integrated process planning with scheduling is a core activity in the manufacturing chain. Modern manufacturing processes require higher flexibility and capability of supporting distributed activities. In this paper, a novel STEP-NC Compliant Process Planning and Scheduling Algorithm (STEP-NCPPSA) is proposed to meet such requirements. The STEP-NCPPSA utilises STEP-NC compliant data models to represent the related manufacturing information. STEP-NCPPSA aims to achieve an Integrated, Intelligent, Informative and Interoperable (I4) manufacturing in a distributed manufacturing environment. Three phases, STEP-NC initial process planning, initial bidding, and Tree-based Genetic Algorithm optimisation are naturally integrated by the supporting STEP-NC concepts. STEP-NCPPSA is also capable of handling shop-floor information and re-process planning and scheduling to adapt to shop floor changes.
['Weizhou Yang', 'Xun W. Xu']
A new approach for integrating process planning with scheduling