Selection of alternative routings in real time: DMM and modified DMM rules

Abstract

The objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of the modified Dissimilarity Maximisation Method (modified DMM) for real-time Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs) scheduling. The modified DMM is an improvement over the DMM. It is a plan selection method for an alternative process that was developed for routing selection in real-time FMS scheduling. A computer simulation model, which mimics a physical system, is used to evaluate the effect of DMM and modified DMM rules on the system performance. The results show that the modified DMM outperforms DMM on system throughput in a saturation case and increases the utilisation rate of machines and the material-handling system.