Using tolerance results to improve reconfiguration process in flexible manufacturing systems

Focuses on links between tolerance and reconfiguration of FMS. Tolerance (FMS capability to provide us with the functions to be performed by the system, in spite of the failing of one of its elements) enables us to determine the manufacturing architecture, that could the best react in case of failure occurrence. It is off-line computed and could be used by the designer in a multiple-criteria evaluation of an architecture. Reconfiguration determines the new operating part configuration to ensure FMS availability after a failure occurrence. It provides the decision for working modes´ management and piloting, that are in charge of applying it. We do not presume about the architecture´s tolerance. The architecture is considered as given. Tolerance analysis is off-line computed and enables us establish data such as critical elements. Then, these results are online exploited in an improved reconfiguration procedure. They enable us to draw clear-cut conclusions about the options to be considered for the architecture´s configuration. The procedure, that decides about the new FMS configuration, becomes more reactive under some conditions