A Cross-plant Circulation Method for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems at the Equipment Level Based on the Contract Network Protocol

This study explores feasible methods for cross-plant circulation of equipment-level elements in reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS). The method aims to optimize the equipment circulation and exchange between different plants by minimizing communication occurrences, thereby reducing exchange ramp-up time. Combining our previous research and existing theories, an operational framework is established for cross-plant circulation and exchange at the equipment level in RMS based on the contractual network protocol. Decision attribute sets and priority weight assessments of indicators are incorporated into the model. The established framework is tested using a normalized dataset in RMS based on contractual network protocol, by which the feasibility is verified. Results confirm that the cross-plant group consisting of ID3 as the optimal response bidder can operate within the framework. This indicates that the proposed method is suitable for the circulation of a network system for reconfiguring equipment based on the current material conditions in our country. It enables broad equipment circulation and exchange, facilitating rapid industrial-level responses to the demand and high adaptability.