Manufacturing Systems Modelling, Specification and Analysis

Modelling, specification and analysis of manufacturing systems require different forms of modelling to analyse their functional, behavioural, information, resource and management aspects at two major levels of details. The first level, called macro-level, is concerned with high-level system design, analysis and specification for which a consistent and precise system description is required. The use of a process-based modelling approach suitable for requirements definition and design specification is advocated for this level. The second level, called micro-level, is concerned with detailed analysis of qualitative and quantitative properties of some parts of the system. The use of Petri nets, and especially event graphs for cyclic systems and a special class of conflict-free nets for non-cyclic systems, is advocated for this level.