Application of production system classifications in rapid design and virtual prototyping

This paper presents a practical application of classifications of production systems which underlie a web-based expert system for automating the identification, diagnosis and improvement of such systems. This will complement the larger COPERNICO software system, which simplifies and makes accessible essential modelling tools for the rapid design, simulation and virtual prototyping of factories. The objectives are to systematically organise manufacturing systems and their characteristics in classifications to reveal the change process that connects the development of processes and technologies, to their overarching system; and to develop a useful benchmarking tool to enable users to view manufacturing systems in an evolutionary landscape, gauge performance, and identify strategies and tools for change and improvement.