IMAC— An industrial material activity controller for electronic FMS

摘要: Abstract An Industrial Material Activity Controller, termed IMAC, has been successfully in operation for over a year now, The IMAC performs material handling control an electronic assembly flexible manufacturing system (FMS). is software package that integrates processes' and machines' monitoring, operators' robots' interface, data collection. also interfaces with other systems outside the FMS (such as plant management information system). driven by real-time dispatcher, which makes its decision based on current parts inventory production status each workstation. It provides automatic delivery of raw materials (operator or robot paced), simplifies engineering part mix changes, determines work-in-progress (WIP) routing. appropriate components arrive timely manner to workstation, results reduced WIP improved performance.