The design and control of manufacturing systems

This research proposes a Framework for Manufacturing System Design and Control. The Framework consists of three components: Manufacturing Control Hierarchy, Process for Manufacturing System Design and Control and an Information-Based Control model. The Information-Based Control model provides the basis for the role of information to be used to control complex manufacturing systems designs. The Process for Manufacturing System Design and Control is based on the application of axiomatic design to manufacturing systems. The Process prescribes an approach to distinguish the elements of design and control in manufacturing system engineering. The manufacturing system designs of the three industrial revolutions are evaluated based on the Process to discern the Customer Wants, Functional Requirements (FRs), Design Parameters (DPs) and System Variables (SVs). The three industrial revolutions that are examined are the advent of the armory system, Ford Mass Production System, and the Toyota Production System. The System Variables that are used to control material flow in the operation of the Toyota Production System are modeled with respect to feedback control theory. Feedback control is used to evaluate the differences between the System Variables controlling Toyota's and Ford's material management systems. A general case is developed for feedback control theory application in manufacturing system control that involves or requires people to perform controller functions.