Physically reconfigurable virtual cells: A dynamic model for a highly dynamic environment

This paper presents a scheduling framework for sustaining a manufacturing environment that is said to be very dynamic and turbulent. The framework proposes five modules: part family formulation, family sequencing, cellular configuration, jobs scheduling and system monitoring. The modules will configure the workstations in virtual, dynamic or hybrid cells. Decision criteria are exclusively economic and aim at minimizing the cost for transfering unit loads and the cost for relocating processors.