Study on modeling of distributed manufacturing execution systems based on Grid computing technology

At present, manufacturing execution systems (MES) suffer some limits and difficulties. For example, it is difficult to realize the heterogeneous resources sharing and data collection because the optimization methods relying on a fixed and rigid plant model are already not fit to the dynamic workshop environment. Therefore, the present MES are not genuine real-time systems. The development of Grid computing provides solutions to the special requirements of MES. By integrating all the geographically distributed resources into a titanic supercomputer, it can realize the fully resources sharing such as computing power, storage, data, information, knowledge, expertise and equipment. In this case, the problems such as information sharing, information real-time transmission, heterogeneous resources sharing could be solved by the inherent distributed solution of Grid computing. This paper first analyzes the necessity and feasibility of applying Grid computing into MES, and then establishes the hierarchical architecture and function model of distributed MES based on Grid. The successful implementation of MES based on Grid makes the workshop vitrification, decreases overstocking products, and eliminates unqualified products entering the next procedure, which enable the enterprise to finish product orders better and faster, reduce the product cost, and improve product quality.