Genetic algorithms for design for assembly: The remote constrained genetic algorithm

Assembly is a key manufacturing process for many industries and the use of Design for Assembly (DFA) can have substantial benefits. This paper examines the DFA problem, especially in the context of global manufacturing where suppliers may be distributed over the globe. The use of Genetic Algorithms is proposed to search through networks such as the Internet for parts that both satisfy constraints and minimize cost. The overall result is an architecture that can be used for global manufacturing. This approach is illustrated with a description of an implementation involving the design of Personal Computers.