A web-based process planning optimization system for distributed design

Abstract

In this paper, a process planning module, which can optimize the selection of machining resources, determination of set-up plans and sequencing of machining operations to achieve optimized process plans, has been wrapped as services and deployed in the Internet to support distributed design and manufacturing analysis. The module includes four intelligent approaches, and a Tabu search-based approach is chosen to be explained to illustrate the optimization process. A Webbased prototype system has been setup for users to carry out visualization-based manipulations and process planning of design models by invoking the services remotely. Through effective utilizations of the Web and Java technologies, this system is operation system-independent, scalable and service-oriented, and can be used for a design team geographically distributed to organize a concurrent engineering design activity effectively.