Hi-Cell system architecture for manufacturing systems

In factory automation systems, conventional hierarchal systems are no longer able to meet changing demands of customers today. Flexible systems, which are realized by making flat and autonomous judgment of workers in each section, to meet these demands rapidly are required. The paper proposes the expanded Hi-Cell system architecture which coordinates the whole system under the autonomous judgment of local workers. A system realized by this architecture prevents unnecessary information for each worker working locally and protects bad effects from others. The effectiveness of this system is proved by being adapted to the actual application of a tyre production system. >