Integrating a New Machine into an Existing Manufacturing System by using Holonic Approach

This paper focuses on simplifying and easing the integration of a new machine into an existing conventional hierarchical manufacturing system. Based on a distributed manufacturing paradigm (Holonic Component Based Architecture -HCBA), it proposes the functions and interfaces the new machine and the existing manufacturing system should possess, so that ready and simple configuration of additional machines into an existing manufacturing system (plug and play) can be achieved. The configuration process is intended to include not only mechanical and electrical interfaces, but also decision system interfaces (such as planning, scheduling and shop floor control) too.