An Expert System for the Scheduling of a Flexible Assembly Line for Multi Item Products

An expert system, in which preconditions and rules are expressed in logical formulas, is developed to support the scheduling of an automated job shop type multi-item assembly line. This system has the foIIowing characteristics to apply any case of schedulings: (1)Forward scheduling orbackward scheduling can be made. (2)The criterion on the input order of products, the dispatching process at each assembly station, and the selection of products from a buffer can be selected from several priority criteria. (3)Layout, number and velocity of vehicles, and the capacity of each buffer can be changed.