Using remote method invocation (RMI) and a distributed object-oriented technique, this paper presents a systematic approach to developing a manufacturing execution system (MES) framework, which is open, modularized, distributed, configurable, interoperable and maintainable. Moreover, the design patterns for the framework .are developed and a variety of functional components are designed by inheriting appropriate patterns. And then an application is constructed by invoking corresponding methods of related components. An MES system implementing the framework and design patterns can be facilely integrated with other manufacturing applications, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and floor control system (FCS) .
A multi-agent based manufacturing execution system (MES) model is presented. It is open, modula-rized, distributed, configurable, integratable and maintainable. By analyzing the MES domain in manufacturing systems, this paper proposes a multi-agent based MES model and analyzes the partitioned functions of MES in the model using unified modeling language (UML) diagrams, and establishes the ongoing implemented MES architecture. This MES can be facilely integrated with the enterprise resource planning (ERP), the floor control system (FCS), and the other manufacturing applications.