FMS Software: Data Structures of Distributed FMS Data Bases

For present purposes, a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is taken to be a system dealing with high level distributed data processing systems and automated material flow from the manufacturing area using computer controlled machine tools, robots and inspection machines. Clearly this high level of flexible automation can only be achieved by using computers not only for process control purposes but for the system as a whole. To provide the required flexibility and high level of intelligence within FMS systems it is necessary to incorporate a Distributed Data Base Management System (DMS) into the hierarchical control. A DMS exists in an FMS system where logically integrated data is physically distributed between a number of separate manufacturing facilities. The basic principles of distributed systems and an example of a distributed FMS tool data base structure is given. The tool data structure has been designed and implemented on microcomputers at Trent Polytechnic.