Design and validation of a product-driven control system based on a six sigma methodology and discrete event simulation

Abstract

Recent trends in industry towards autonomous and just-in-time production systems, and the latest developments in auto-ID technologies, have created new opportunities for enhancing reactivity and agility on the shop floor. To take advantage of these opportunities, a Product-driven System (PDS) concept can be seen as an innovative control concept that advocates that a product can be an active actor throughout its lifecycle by associating the material flow with the product information. We propose a methodological approach that contributes to the design and validation of such a system. More specifically, this work focuses on an infrastructure that satisfies PDS control requirements. The feasibility of our proposed approach was evaluated by the development of an industrial case at the Trane Company using six sigma methodology and discrete event simulation.

Keywords:

• product-driven control
• six sigma
• project-driven management
• discrete event simulation
• auto-ID technologies