MASCOT: A Virtual Factory for Research and Development in Manufacturing Scheduling and Control

Both researchers and industrial engineers interested in Manufacturing Scheduling and Control (MSC) are frustrated by the complexity of the problem and the wide range of approaches that have been proposed. The research environment often discourages scientists from the extensive effort and hands-on experience needed to gain a realistic view of the problem, and manufacturing engineers have no way to assess the relative practical value of the many proposed approaches. This white paper proposes a Manufacturing Scheduling and Control Testbed (MASCOT) to address these challenges to technology transfer: a Virtual (simulated) Factory, supporting a library of detailed industrial cases. Researchers can use MASCOT as a convenient source of realistic challenges, and vendors and manufacturers can use it to identify promising technologies for more rapid transfer to commercial application. In addition to this primary mission, the MASCOT Virtual Factory will provide several key technical elements in support of the broader vision of agile manufacturing enterprises.