A component-based control system for agile manufacturing

Increasing complexity and interdependency in manufacturing enterprises requires an agile manufacturing paradigm. This paper considers the characteristics that a component-based control system needs to embody to support agility in this context. The concept of a component that incorporates automation hardware, software, control services, and manufacturing-related services into a basic modular unit is reported. A component encapsulates low-level, real-time implementation and component-specific knowledge, which are abstracted and exposed as standard interfaces to enable it to be integrated into a manufacturing system as a common, reusable building block. The concept and control of the component is outlined in this paper and the methodology for the implementation of a component-based control system is illustrated. Finally, the implementation of the component-based concept at Johann A. Krause Maschinenfabrik GmbH, a major manufacturer of automotive assembly automation systems, is described.