Structural Modeling of a RFID-enabled Reconfigurable Architecture for a Flexible Manufacturing System

Abstract:
A modern flexible manufacturing (FMS) system typically consists of several distributed control systems, such as machining stations, assembling stations, material handling and storage systems. Employing new technologies and novel approaches on a FMS results to more flexibility, agility and re-configurability. The application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in the manufacturing systems provides the basis for accomplishing more flexible and agile systems by utilizing real-time information of the components. Modeling an RFID-enabled FMS is necessary, so as to evaluate the design, measure the performance and translate the resulting models into operational applications. However, these processes are complex but very vital in implementation of the new technology. This paper presents the architecture for modeling an RFID-enabled flexible manufacturing system. The primary focus is on, requirement analysis of the manufacturing system, design and development of RFID-enabled manufacturing system using Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams that ensure systems integration with more flexibility and re-configurability, using efficient algorithms and effective tools and applications for implementing RFID-enabled architecture for the FMS. Keywords — Flexible manufacturing system; RFID; structural modeling; flexibility