A matrix framework for controller design for reentrant flow scheduling

A systems theory approach is used to develop a new matrix framework for controller design for reentrant flow structure. The controller is comprised of inner and outer loops, where the inner loop is decision-free with no shared resource problems. The outer loop, however, involves shared resource and so requires a conflict resolution command input u_c, selected based on dispatching rules. Using matrices over a nonstandard (`and´, `or´) algebra to describe the system structure, a new system with different part routings can quickly be obtained by changing only an operation sequencing matrix. S. The proposed controller is a rule-based structure that contains properties and behaviors of the shop floor control portion of a manufacturing scheduling system. The proposed matrix framework allows rigorous analysis of the system leading to design for deadlock removal, and potentially for conflict resolution and so on