A dispatching algorithm and software tool for managing the part flow of Reconfigurable Transportation System

Reconfigurable Transportation Systems - RTSs rely upon modular transportation units, standard mechatronic interfaces and distributed control solutions. These solutions are frequently preferred in production environments characterized by a very high adaptability, meaning that the production equipment can be adjusted in its own configuration and set points in a very short time to match the realization of a specific product family. The process, the system settings and the production management cannot be handled statically on the basis of a-priori knowledge of the part family demand, thus requiring real-time production and control approaches to support their efficient management over time becomes instrumental. The current work proposes an algorithm and the related software tool for the dispatching of parts on RTSs while minimizing of the parts' lead time and transportation time. The proposed algorithm has been tested with regard to a production pilot system realizing the re-manufacturing and de-manufacturing of Printed Electronic Boards. © 2013 The Authors.