2024
Julia C. Arlinghaus; Oliver Antons
Planung und Steuerung für die digitale Produktion Book Chapter
In: Berlin Springer Vieweg, Heidelberg (Ed.): Handbuch Unternehmensorganisation, Springer Vieweg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2024, ISBN: 978-3-642-45370-0.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomous production control, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Digitalization, Industry 4.0, Production planning and control, Smart manufacutring systems
@inbook{Arlinghaus2024,
title = {Planung und Steuerung f\"{u}r die digitale Produktion},
author = {Julia C. Arlinghaus and Oliver Antons},
editor = {Springer Vieweg, Berlin, Heidelberg},
url = {https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-642-45370-0_63-2},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-45370-0_63-2},
isbn = {978-3-642-45370-0},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
booktitle = {Handbuch Unternehmensorganisation},
publisher = {Springer Vieweg, Berlin, Heidelberg},
abstract = {Im vergangenen Jahrzehnt wurde die produzierende Industrie mit einem zunehmend volatileren Umfeld konfrontiert. Unterschiedlichste Krisen haben etablierte Lieferketten ersch\"{u}ttert und die Notwendigkeit resilienter und flexibler Produktionsplanung und -steuerung aufgezeigt. Zeitgleich hat eine voranschreitende Digitalisierung der Produktionsanlagen neue Herausforderungen, Potenziale und Chancen aufgeworfen. Cyber-physikalische Systeme und ein Industrial Internet of Things erm\"{o}glichen Digitale Zwillinge der Produktion und erf\"{u}llen die technischen Voraussetzungen f\"{u}r eine autonome Entscheidungsfindung auf einzelnen Produktionssystemen. In diesem Kontext stellt sich f\"{u}r Unternehmen eine fundamentale Frage der Organisation hinsichtlich der Architektur von Produktionsplanung und -steuerung. Mit zentralisierter sowie verteilter Produktionsplanung und -steuerung stehen Unternehmen zwei gegenl\"{a}ufige Ans\"{a}tze zur Verf\"{u}gung, die in diesem Beitrag n\"{a}her betrachtet werden.},
keywords = {Autonomous production control, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Digitalization, Industry 4.0, Production planning and control, Smart manufacutring systems},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Im vergangenen Jahrzehnt wurde die produzierende Industrie mit einem zunehmend volatileren Umfeld konfrontiert. Unterschiedlichste Krisen haben etablierte Lieferketten erschüttert und die Notwendigkeit resilienter und flexibler Produktionsplanung und -steuerung aufgezeigt. Zeitgleich hat eine voranschreitende Digitalisierung der Produktionsanlagen neue Herausforderungen, Potenziale und Chancen aufgeworfen. Cyber-physikalische Systeme und ein Industrial Internet of Things ermöglichen Digitale Zwillinge der Produktion und erfüllen die technischen Voraussetzungen für eine autonome Entscheidungsfindung auf einzelnen Produktionssystemen. In diesem Kontext stellt sich für Unternehmen eine fundamentale Frage der Organisation hinsichtlich der Architektur von Produktionsplanung und -steuerung. Mit zentralisierter sowie verteilter Produktionsplanung und -steuerung stehen Unternehmen zwei gegenläufige Ansätze zur Verfügung, die in diesem Beitrag näher betrachtet werden.
2023
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Maximum Likelihood and Neural Network Estimators for Distributed Production Control Proceedings Article
In: IFAC-PapersOnLine , pp. 10327-10332, 2023, ISSN: 2405-8963, (22nd IFAC World Congress).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Distributed control, Machine learning, Production planning and control, Smart manufacutring systems
@inproceedings{nokey,
title = {Maximum Likelihood and Neural Network Estimators for Distributed Production Control},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405896323014210},
doi = {10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.10.1038},
issn = {2405-8963},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-14},
urldate = {2023-07-14},
booktitle = {IFAC-PapersOnLine },
volume = {56},
number = {2},
pages = {10327-10332},
abstract = {Cyber-physical systems have become increasingly common in recent years, providing a multitude of information regarding production processes. At the same time, increasing volatilities, uncertainties, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) are challenging existing production control approaches for manufacturing networks. Data-driven control approaches are an avenue to address VUCA, but require further study in research and practice. We utilize a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation to compare the aptitudes of a maximum likelihood and neural network based estimator for distributed production control, and provide insights into application of machine learning to address ever increasing information and VUCA.},
note = {22nd IFAC World Congress},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Distributed control, Machine learning, Production planning and control, Smart manufacutring systems},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Cyber-physical systems have become increasingly common in recent years, providing a multitude of information regarding production processes. At the same time, increasing volatilities, uncertainties, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) are challenging existing production control approaches for manufacturing networks. Data-driven control approaches are an avenue to address VUCA, but require further study in research and practice. We utilize a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation to compare the aptitudes of a maximum likelihood and neural network based estimator for distributed production control, and provide insights into application of machine learning to address ever increasing information and VUCA.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Designing distributed decision-making authorities for smart factories – understanding the role of manufacturing network architecture Journal Article
In: International Journal of Production Research, vol. 0, no. 0, pp. 1-19, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomous production control, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Centralized control, Decision-making authority, Distributed control, Manufacturing network topology, Production planning and control
@article{doi:10.1080/00207543.2023.2217285,
title = {Designing distributed decision-making authorities for smart factories \textendash understanding the role of manufacturing network architecture},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2023.2217285},
doi = {10.1080/00207543.2023.2217285},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {International Journal of Production Research},
volume = {0},
number = {0},
pages = {1-19},
publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
abstract = {The availability of cyber-physical systems (CPS) in modern manufacturing networks provides a multitude of interesting opportunities from a manufacturing control perspective. Providing sensors, data gathering, local computation and communication capabilities modern CPS fulfil the technical requirements to act completely autonomously in a manufacturing network. While the distribution of decision-making authority to autonomous entities is feasible given such requirements, practice often sees the monopolisation of decision-making authority for centralised control. However, distributed production control approaches might be better suited given current manufacturing challenges, ranging from unreliable supply chains over highly volatile markets, to the demand for increasingly efficient and highly customisable production. In this article, we extend an existing scheduling complexity framework which enables practitioners and researchers alike to assess the aptitude of given manufacturing networks for both centralised and distributed control. In particular, we study the influence of a manufacturing network's topology ranging from assembly line to job shops on the aforementioned aptitude, with total production costs as objective.
We utilise a multi-agent-based discrete-event simulation comparing an MILP-based centralised control approach and an autonomy based distributed control approach with weighted costs as decision function to evaluate this framework. Our results provide novel insights regarding the influence of manufacturing network topologies on the scheduling complexity of manufacturing networks.},
keywords = {Autonomous production control, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Centralized control, Decision-making authority, Distributed control, Manufacturing network topology, Production planning and control},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The availability of cyber-physical systems (CPS) in modern manufacturing networks provides a multitude of interesting opportunities from a manufacturing control perspective. Providing sensors, data gathering, local computation and communication capabilities modern CPS fulfil the technical requirements to act completely autonomously in a manufacturing network. While the distribution of decision-making authority to autonomous entities is feasible given such requirements, practice often sees the monopolisation of decision-making authority for centralised control. However, distributed production control approaches might be better suited given current manufacturing challenges, ranging from unreliable supply chains over highly volatile markets, to the demand for increasingly efficient and highly customisable production. In this article, we extend an existing scheduling complexity framework which enables practitioners and researchers alike to assess the aptitude of given manufacturing networks for both centralised and distributed control. In particular, we study the influence of a manufacturing network's topology ranging from assembly line to job shops on the aforementioned aptitude, with total production costs as objective.
We utilise a multi-agent-based discrete-event simulation comparing an MILP-based centralised control approach and an autonomy based distributed control approach with weighted costs as decision function to evaluate this framework. Our results provide novel insights regarding the influence of manufacturing network topologies on the scheduling complexity of manufacturing networks.
We utilise a multi-agent-based discrete-event simulation comparing an MILP-based centralised control approach and an autonomy based distributed control approach with weighted costs as decision function to evaluate this framework. Our results provide novel insights regarding the influence of manufacturing network topologies on the scheduling complexity of manufacturing networks.
2022
Oliver Antons
Distributing decision-making authority: autonomous entities in manufacturing networks PhD Thesis
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2022, (Veröffentlicht auf dem Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University; Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2022).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Decision-making authority, Discrete-event simulation, Multi-agent system, Production planning and control
@phdthesis{Antons:856980,
title = {Distributing decision-making authority: autonomous entities in manufacturing networks},
author = {Oliver Antons},
url = {https://oliver.antons.eu/research/decision-making-authority/ , Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority
https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/856980 , RWTH Publication Server},
doi = {10.18154/RWTH-2022-11291},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-16},
urldate = {2022-12-16},
pages = {1 Online-Ressource : Illustrationen},
publisher = {RWTH Aachen University},
address = {Aachen},
school = {Rheinisch-Westf\"{a}lische Technische Hochschule Aachen},
abstract = {Industrial production was faced with increasing challenges in the last years. Market volatility, rising energy costs and disrupted supply networks resulted in an ever-increasing information variability, which decreases productivity and complicates production planning and control (PPC). Moreover, the ever-increasing demand for, and differentiation through customization also makes planning more difficult. At the same time manufacturing networks have seen a further computerization on a machine level by the introduction of cyber-physical systems (CPS). Capable to process information, gather sensor data locally and communicate within a network, these machine provide an enormous increase in potentials for manufacturing networks. Thus, the technical requirements for distributed production control approaches are fulfilled, based on CPS acting as autonomous entities within a manufacturing network. Such distributed production control approaches feature a number of interesting characteristics, which are often quite contrary to established concepts of traditional, centralized production control. In the literature, many research streams are concerned with the advantages and disadvantages of both centralized and distributed control. While many articles provide deep insights into the workings of specialized control approaches for specific manufacturing environments, an overarching framework allowing a holistic comparison between the two fundamental production control approaches is lacking. In this thesis, the term decision-making authority is introduced to describe the level of autonomy an entity is allowed to exhibit with regard to the potential decisions it could make. Furthermore, both centralized and distributed production control approaches for manufacturing networks based on potentially autonomous entities are explored. In the former case, every entity but one central controller is not allowed to exhibit any decision-making authority, acting purely as command recipients. In the latter case, however, the aforementioned entities have a predefined degree of decision-making authority, enabling them to make certain decisions of the production scheduling on their own. Based on environment variables derived by extensive literature review, a sophisticated simulation framework is developed in form of a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation (MAS-DES). This simulation framework represents all objects of a manufacturing network, such as machines and products as agents. These agents can either follow a global plan, derived from a mixed-integer linear program modeling a centralized production control approach, or act autonomously within the scope of their respective decision-making authority in a distributed production control approach. The main part of this thesis consists of five research articles, presented in Chapters II - VI. Chapter II reviews the historic ply between centralized and decentralized control, followed by a structured literature review regarding autonomy in production planning and control, manufacturing and related research streams. Extending this, Chapter III studies the difference in information scopes of different classes of potentially autonomous entities in a manufacturing network. Chapter IV provides guidance to both researchers and practitioners alike by introducing a scheduling complexity framework, based on environment variables derived from the literature. A multi-agent based discrete-event simulation is utilized to validate the framework quantitatively. Following, Chapter V extends the simulations to study the influence of a manufacturing network’s topology on its aptitude for both centralized and distributed production control approaches. Chapter VI explores synergistic potentials between machine learning and distributed production control for manufacturing networks. Lastly, the thesis ends with a conclusion summarizing results, noting limitations and presenting avenues for future research.},
note = {Ver\"{o}ffentlicht auf dem Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen
University; Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westf\"{a}lische Technische
Hochschule Aachen, 2022},
keywords = {Autonomy, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Decision-making authority, Discrete-event simulation, Multi-agent system, Production planning and control},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
Industrial production was faced with increasing challenges in the last years. Market volatility, rising energy costs and disrupted supply networks resulted in an ever-increasing information variability, which decreases productivity and complicates production planning and control (PPC). Moreover, the ever-increasing demand for, and differentiation through customization also makes planning more difficult. At the same time manufacturing networks have seen a further computerization on a machine level by the introduction of cyber-physical systems (CPS). Capable to process information, gather sensor data locally and communicate within a network, these machine provide an enormous increase in potentials for manufacturing networks. Thus, the technical requirements for distributed production control approaches are fulfilled, based on CPS acting as autonomous entities within a manufacturing network. Such distributed production control approaches feature a number of interesting characteristics, which are often quite contrary to established concepts of traditional, centralized production control. In the literature, many research streams are concerned with the advantages and disadvantages of both centralized and distributed control. While many articles provide deep insights into the workings of specialized control approaches for specific manufacturing environments, an overarching framework allowing a holistic comparison between the two fundamental production control approaches is lacking. In this thesis, the term decision-making authority is introduced to describe the level of autonomy an entity is allowed to exhibit with regard to the potential decisions it could make. Furthermore, both centralized and distributed production control approaches for manufacturing networks based on potentially autonomous entities are explored. In the former case, every entity but one central controller is not allowed to exhibit any decision-making authority, acting purely as command recipients. In the latter case, however, the aforementioned entities have a predefined degree of decision-making authority, enabling them to make certain decisions of the production scheduling on their own. Based on environment variables derived by extensive literature review, a sophisticated simulation framework is developed in form of a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation (MAS-DES). This simulation framework represents all objects of a manufacturing network, such as machines and products as agents. These agents can either follow a global plan, derived from a mixed-integer linear program modeling a centralized production control approach, or act autonomously within the scope of their respective decision-making authority in a distributed production control approach. The main part of this thesis consists of five research articles, presented in Chapters II - VI. Chapter II reviews the historic ply between centralized and decentralized control, followed by a structured literature review regarding autonomy in production planning and control, manufacturing and related research streams. Extending this, Chapter III studies the difference in information scopes of different classes of potentially autonomous entities in a manufacturing network. Chapter IV provides guidance to both researchers and practitioners alike by introducing a scheduling complexity framework, based on environment variables derived from the literature. A multi-agent based discrete-event simulation is utilized to validate the framework quantitatively. Following, Chapter V extends the simulations to study the influence of a manufacturing network’s topology on its aptitude for both centralized and distributed production control approaches. Chapter VI explores synergistic potentials between machine learning and distributed production control for manufacturing networks. Lastly, the thesis ends with a conclusion summarizing results, noting limitations and presenting avenues for future research.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
A Manufacturing Scheduling Complexity Framework and Agent-Based Comparison of Centralized and Distributed Control Approaches Journal Article
In: IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 31-38, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Complexity Theory, Decentralized Control, Job-shop scheduling, Manufacturing, Optimization, Production
@article{antons2021ieee,
title = {A Manufacturing Scheduling Complexity Framework and Agent-Based Comparison of Centralized and Distributed Control Approaches},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1109/JESTIE.2021.3100272},
doi = {10.1109/JESTIE.2021.3100272},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {31-38},
abstract = {Centralized approaches are often employed to control manufacturing networks in practice. The introduction of industrial cyber-physical systems driven by advances in microcontroller, sensor, and networking technologies is providing distributed control systems with the technical requirements needed to mitigate the drawbacks of centralized control, such as long optimization times that result in long planning horizons and inflexibility. While such distributed control approaches respond to the growing challenges faced by industry in terms of flexibility, resilience, and lot sizes, the inherent myopia of autonomous agents may discourage practical application. In this article, we develop a scheduling complexity framework derived from the literature, which allows researchers and prationers alike to evaluate the suitability of both centralized and distributed control approaches for manufacturing planning and control. This framework utilizes quantifiable environment variables, which influence we study by means of a multiagent discrete event simulation.},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Complexity Theory, Decentralized Control, Job-shop scheduling, Manufacturing, Optimization, Production},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Centralized approaches are often employed to control manufacturing networks in practice. The introduction of industrial cyber-physical systems driven by advances in microcontroller, sensor, and networking technologies is providing distributed control systems with the technical requirements needed to mitigate the drawbacks of centralized control, such as long optimization times that result in long planning horizons and inflexibility. While such distributed control approaches respond to the growing challenges faced by industry in terms of flexibility, resilience, and lot sizes, the inherent myopia of autonomous agents may discourage practical application. In this article, we develop a scheduling complexity framework derived from the literature, which allows researchers and prationers alike to evaluate the suitability of both centralized and distributed control approaches for manufacturing planning and control. This framework utilizes quantifiable environment variables, which influence we study by means of a multiagent discrete event simulation.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Data-driven and autonomous manufacturing control in cyber-physical production systems Journal Article
In: Computers in Industry, vol. 141, pp. 103711, 2022, ISSN: 0166-3615.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomous production control, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Machine learning, Neural network, Production planning and control
@article{ANTONS2022103711,
title = {Data-driven and autonomous manufacturing control in cyber-physical production systems},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166361522001087},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2022.103711},
issn = {0166-3615},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Computers in Industry},
volume = {141},
pages = {103711},
abstract = {Modern manufacturing networks consist of cyber-physical systems (CPS) which offer an array of interesting capabilities, ranging from local computation over data generation to communication capabilities. As traditional control approaches fail to fully leverage these capabilities, the last decade has seen a renewed interest in distributed control approaches based on autonomous entities. In this article, we study the synergistic potentials of autonomous control and machine learning in a job-shop setting, addressing challenges of modern manufacturing such as market fluctuation and process time variance, thus leveraging the potentials of CPS in order to flexibly configure manufacturing networks and achieve cost-minimal production. We utilize a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation to compare this novel approach to a traditional heuristic, underlining the potentials and advantages of data-driven control approaches.},
keywords = {Autonomous production control, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Machine learning, Neural network, Production planning and control},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Modern manufacturing networks consist of cyber-physical systems (CPS) which offer an array of interesting capabilities, ranging from local computation over data generation to communication capabilities. As traditional control approaches fail to fully leverage these capabilities, the last decade has seen a renewed interest in distributed control approaches based on autonomous entities. In this article, we study the synergistic potentials of autonomous control and machine learning in a job-shop setting, addressing challenges of modern manufacturing such as market fluctuation and process time variance, thus leveraging the potentials of CPS in order to flexibly configure manufacturing networks and achieve cost-minimal production. We utilize a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation to compare this novel approach to a traditional heuristic, underlining the potentials and advantages of data-driven control approaches.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Machine Learning and Autonomous Control—A Synergy for Manufacturing Proceedings Article
In: Borangiu, Theodor; Trentesaux, Damien; Leitão, Paulo; Cardin, Olivier; Joblot, Laurent (Ed.): Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future, pp. 417–428, Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2022, ISBN: 978-3-030-99108-1.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Distributed control, Machine learning, Manufacturing, Neural network
@inproceedings{10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_30,
title = {Machine Learning and Autonomous Control\textemdashA Synergy for Manufacturing},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
editor = {Theodor Borangiu and Damien Trentesaux and Paulo Leit\~{a}o and Olivier Cardin and Laurent Joblot},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_30},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_30 },
isbn = {978-3-030-99108-1},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future},
pages = {417\textendash428},
publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
address = {Cham},
abstract = {This papers studies the synergistic potentials of machine learning and distributed control approaches in a job-shop setting. We utilize a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation to model distributed control in conjunction with a neural network to predict the optimal workshop configuration given fluctuating production demands. Within this simulation model, we study the potential cost and time savings, showing various potentials in the synergistic utilization of distributed control and machine learning for production planning and control in a job-shop manufacturing network.},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Distributed control, Machine learning, Manufacturing, Neural network},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This papers studies the synergistic potentials of machine learning and distributed control approaches in a job-shop setting. We utilize a multi-agent based discrete-event simulation to model distributed control in conjunction with a neural network to predict the optimal workshop configuration given fluctuating production demands. Within this simulation model, we study the potential cost and time savings, showing various potentials in the synergistic utilization of distributed control and machine learning for production planning and control in a job-shop manufacturing network.
2021
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Distributing decision-making authority in manufacturing – review and roadmap for the factory of the future Journal Article
In: International Journal of Production Research, vol. 60, iss. 13, no. 0, pp. 1-19, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomous production control, Autonomy, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Decentralized Control, Industry 4.0, Production planning and control
@article{Antons2021Distributing,
title = {Distributing decision-making authority in manufacturing \textendash review and roadmap for the factory of the future},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2022.2057255},
doi = {10.1080/00207543.2022.2057255},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-07-27},
urldate = {2021-07-27},
journal = {International Journal of Production Research},
volume = {60},
number = {0},
issue = {13},
pages = {1-19},
publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
abstract = {The question of the benefits of autonomous control is more important than ever: production managers, governments and society hope that the vision of smart and digital production systems with high flexibility and low costs may save the value adding and therefore welfare in the high wage, industrialised countries. At the same time, the discussion on the social implications of autonomous objects and decentralised control approaches is growing. Looking back on the history of production research and practice, we find that there has been a constant ply among scholars and production managers between the advantages of the two concepts of centralised and decentralised control approaches. In this article, we study the concept of autonomy in production planning and control, enabled by cyber-physical systems and the distribution of decision-making authority. Based on a profound structured literature review, we analyse the perception of autonomy, the technological requirements and the increasing complexities of modern smart manufacturing. Moreover, we find that recently several research streams suggest the advantages and benefits of autonomous control concepts compared to traditional centralised approaches based on qualitative analysis and identify a distinct lack of quantitative results.},
keywords = {Autonomous production control, Autonomy, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Decentralized Control, Industry 4.0, Production planning and control},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The question of the benefits of autonomous control is more important than ever: production managers, governments and society hope that the vision of smart and digital production systems with high flexibility and low costs may save the value adding and therefore welfare in the high wage, industrialised countries. At the same time, the discussion on the social implications of autonomous objects and decentralised control approaches is growing. Looking back on the history of production research and practice, we find that there has been a constant ply among scholars and production managers between the advantages of the two concepts of centralised and decentralised control approaches. In this article, we study the concept of autonomy in production planning and control, enabled by cyber-physical systems and the distribution of decision-making authority. Based on a profound structured literature review, we analyse the perception of autonomy, the technological requirements and the increasing complexities of modern smart manufacturing. Moreover, we find that recently several research streams suggest the advantages and benefits of autonomous control concepts compared to traditional centralised approaches based on qualitative analysis and identify a distinct lack of quantitative results.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Adaptive self-learning distributed and centralized control approaches for smart factories Proceedings Article
In: pp. 1577-1582, 2021, ISSN: 2212-8271, (54th CIRP CMS 2021 - Towards Digitalized Manufacturing 4.0).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Data analytics, Decision-making, Discrete-event simulation, Distributed control, Industry 4.0, Multi-agent system, Self-learning, Smart factory
@inproceedings{ANTONS20211577,
title = {Adaptive self-learning distributed and centralized control approaches for smart factories},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121011641},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.11.266},
issn = {2212-8271},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Procedia CIRP},
volume = {104},
pages = {1577-1582},
abstract = {The increasing application of cyber-physical systems creates a manufacturing environment in which the technical requirements for distributed control approaches, self-learning systems and analytics of previously untapped data are given. While distributed control approaches are capable to evaluate this information locally and react immediately, centralized approaches react inertly to analyzed machine performance data. In this paper, we study the performance and ability to address the ever increasing challenges in industry of both types of control approaches within an established multi-agent based discrete event simulation.},
note = {54th CIRP CMS 2021 - Towards Digitalized Manufacturing 4.0},
keywords = {Autonomy, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Data analytics, Decision-making, Discrete-event simulation, Distributed control, Industry 4.0, Multi-agent system, Self-learning, Smart factory},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The increasing application of cyber-physical systems creates a manufacturing environment in which the technical requirements for distributed control approaches, self-learning systems and analytics of previously untapped data are given. While distributed control approaches are capable to evaluate this information locally and react immediately, centralized approaches react inertly to analyzed machine performance data. In this paper, we study the performance and ability to address the ever increasing challenges in industry of both types of control approaches within an established multi-agent based discrete event simulation.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Distributed control for Industry 4.0 -A comparative simulation study Proceedings Article
In: pp. 516-521, 2021, ISSN: 2405-8963, (17th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing INCOM 2021).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Control, Discrete-event simulation, Distributed control, Make-to-order, Manufacturing planning, Multi-agent system
@inproceedings{ANTONS2021516,
title = {Distributed control for Industry 4.0 -A comparative simulation study},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405896321007801},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.08.059},
issn = {2405-8963},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {IFAC-PapersOnLine},
volume = {54},
number = {1},
pages = {516-521},
abstract = {The recent decades have seen various market changes that industrial manufactures need to address. Increasing individualization of products and rapid demand fluctuations require new control approaches. In this article, we study the performance of centralized and distributed control approaches with regard to work in progress in a make-to-order environment. We utilize a multi-agent system in a discrete-event simulation to model several control approaches and provide various insights into potential benefits of distributed control concepts given rapidly fluctuating manufacturing demand.},
note = {17th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing INCOM 2021},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Control, Discrete-event simulation, Distributed control, Make-to-order, Manufacturing planning, Multi-agent system},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The recent decades have seen various market changes that industrial manufactures need to address. Increasing individualization of products and rapid demand fluctuations require new control approaches. In this article, we study the performance of centralized and distributed control approaches with regard to work in progress in a make-to-order environment. We utilize a multi-agent system in a discrete-event simulation to model several control approaches and provide various insights into potential benefits of distributed control concepts given rapidly fluctuating manufacturing demand.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Learning Distributed Control for Job Shops-A Comparative Simulation Study Proceedings Article
In: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-Agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future: Proceedings of SOHOMA 2020, pp. 193–202, Springer International Publishing 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Discrete-event simulation, Job-shop scheduling, Multi-agent system, Production planning and control, Self-learning
@inproceedings{antons2021learning,
title = {Learning Distributed Control for Job Shops-A Comparative Simulation Study},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-69373-2},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-69373-2},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
booktitle = {Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-Agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future: Proceedings of SOHOMA 2020},
pages = {193--202},
organization = {Springer International Publishing},
abstract = {This paper studies the potentials of learning and benefits of local data processing in a distributed control setting. We deploy a multi-agent system in the context of a discrete-event simulation to model distributed control for a job shop manufacturing system with variable processing times and multi-stage production processes. Within this simulation, we compare queue length estimation as dispatching rule against a variation with learning capability, which processes additional historic data on a machine agent level, showing the potentials of learning and coordination for distributed control in PPC.},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Discrete-event simulation, Job-shop scheduling, Multi-agent system, Production planning and control, Self-learning},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper studies the potentials of learning and benefits of local data processing in a distributed control setting. We deploy a multi-agent system in the context of a discrete-event simulation to model distributed control for a job shop manufacturing system with variable processing times and multi-stage production processes. Within this simulation, we compare queue length estimation as dispatching rule against a variation with learning capability, which processes additional historic data on a machine agent level, showing the potentials of learning and coordination for distributed control in PPC.
2020
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Designing decision-making authorities for smart factories Proceedings Article
In: pp. 316–322, Elsevier, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Decision-making, Discrete-event simulation, Distributed control, Industry 4.0, Intelligent Product, Multi-agent system, Smart factory
@inproceedings{antons2020designing,
title = {Designing decision-making authorities for smart factories},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827120306120},
doi = {10.1016/j.procir.2020.04.047},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Procedia CIRP},
volume = {93},
pages = {316--322},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {Smart factories are an appealing vision, addressing ever increasing challenges in industry. Driven by advances in microcontroller, sensor and networking technologies, all entities, such as machines, products, load carriers, within a smart factory could become intelligent and able to assess their own situation and to attain their own goals successfully. However, local decision may exacerbate achieving global logistics performance due to the entities intrinsic selfishness. In this paper, we explore the trade-off between local decision-making and global performance management and derive first guidelines for the situation-specific design of a distributed control authority for smart factories.},
keywords = {Autonomy, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Cyber-physical system, Decision-making, Discrete-event simulation, Distributed control, Industry 4.0, Intelligent Product, Multi-agent system, Smart factory},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Smart factories are an appealing vision, addressing ever increasing challenges in industry. Driven by advances in microcontroller, sensor and networking technologies, all entities, such as machines, products, load carriers, within a smart factory could become intelligent and able to assess their own situation and to attain their own goals successfully. However, local decision may exacerbate achieving global logistics performance due to the entities intrinsic selfishness. In this paper, we explore the trade-off between local decision-making and global performance management and derive first guidelines for the situation-specific design of a distributed control authority for smart factories.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Arlinghaus
Modelling Autonomous Production Control: A Guide to Select the Most Suitable Modelling Approach Proceedings Article
In: International Conference on Dynamics in Logistics, pp. 245–253, Springer 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomous production control, Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Discrete-event simulation, Linear programming, Minimal models, Production planning and control
@inproceedings{antons2020modelling,
title = {Modelling Autonomous Production Control: A Guide to Select the Most Suitable Modelling Approach},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Arlinghaus},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-44783-0_24},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-44783-0_24},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
booktitle = {International Conference on Dynamics in Logistics},
pages = {245--253},
organization = {Springer},
abstract = {This paper studies and compares Minimal Models, Linear Programming and Discrete-event Simulation as approaches to model Production Planning and Control with regard to their ability to include the concept of autonomous control. After a brief explanation of autonomous control in production planning, the three aforementioned concepts are introduced in detail. We derive their benefits and drawbacks for different scenarios, and subsequently give advice when to deploy each method, applicable for researchers and practioners alike.},
keywords = {Autonomous production control, Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Discrete-event simulation, Linear programming, Minimal models, Production planning and control},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper studies and compares Minimal Models, Linear Programming and Discrete-event Simulation as approaches to model Production Planning and Control with regard to their ability to include the concept of autonomous control. After a brief explanation of autonomous control in production planning, the three aforementioned concepts are introduced in detail. We derive their benefits and drawbacks for different scenarios, and subsequently give advice when to deploy each method, applicable for researchers and practioners alike.
2019
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Bendul
Decision making in industry 4.0--a comparison of distributed control approaches Proceedings Article
In: International Workshop on Service Orientation in Holonic and Multi-Agent Manufacturing, pp. 329–339, Springer 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Distributed control, Graph colouring dynamics, Industry 4.0, Multi-agent system
@inproceedings{antons2019decision,
title = {Decision making in industry 4.0--a comparison of distributed control approaches},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Bendul},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-27477-1_25},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-27477-1_25},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
urldate = {2019-01-01},
booktitle = {International Workshop on Service Orientation in Holonic and Multi-Agent Manufacturing},
pages = {329--339},
organization = {Springer},
abstract = {This paper studies the influence of available information and coordination in distributed control systems for Industry 4.0. A purely decentralized and a hybrid heuristic are deployed in a Multi-Agent System in order to solve graph coloring dynamics. By means of simulation a multitude of instances is evaluated, showing a superior performance of the hybrid heuristic in most cases, underlining the importance of information availability and coordination in distributed control.},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Distributed control, Graph colouring dynamics, Industry 4.0, Multi-agent system},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper studies the influence of available information and coordination in distributed control systems for Industry 4.0. A purely decentralized and a hybrid heuristic are deployed in a Multi-Agent System in order to solve graph coloring dynamics. By means of simulation a multitude of instances is evaluated, showing a superior performance of the hybrid heuristic in most cases, underlining the importance of information availability and coordination in distributed control.
Oliver Antons; Julia C. Bendul
The impact of information and communication flow structures on logistics performance in Industry 4.0 production systems with distributed control Proceedings Article
In: EurOMA19, 2019.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Autonomy & Decision-making Authority, Distributed control, Graph colouring dynamics, Scheduling
@inproceedings{Antons-2019-ID692,
title = {The impact of information and communication flow structures on logistics performance in Industry 4.0 production systems with distributed control},
author = {Oliver Antons and Julia C. Bendul},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
urldate = {2019-01-01},
booktitle = {EurOMA19},
abstract = {This paper studies the influence of accessible information and communication in distributed control systems for Industry 4.0 applications. To this end, we compare a purely decentralized and a hybrid heuristic in a multi-agent system in order to solve graph colouring dynamics. By means of simulations, both heuristics are compared, and while no heuristic clearly dominates the other, insights on design challenges in distributed control are derived.},
keywords = {Autonomy \& Decision-making Authority, Distributed control, Graph colouring dynamics, Scheduling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This paper studies the influence of accessible information and communication in distributed control systems for Industry 4.0 applications. To this end, we compare a purely decentralized and a hybrid heuristic in a multi-agent system in order to solve graph colouring dynamics. By means of simulations, both heuristics are compared, and while no heuristic clearly dominates the other, insights on design challenges in distributed control are derived.