24 Life Cycle Simulation of Machine Parts with Part Agents
351
part agents; compare the sum of the profit, cost, and environmental load in each case;
and evaluate in which aspect the part agent can be effectively used.
24.7 Discussion
We have still issues in developing a practical system for life cycle simulation of parts
with part agents.
First issue is the evaluation of the life cycle stages. We use three parameters that are
profit, cost, and environmental load for that purpose. These are same parameters with
elements of TPI except that profit is used instead of value to capture the economic
gain at each time step. These parameters are basic ones but other parameters may
exist for appropriate evaluation of life cycle stages.
Another issue is the deterioration factors that cause deterioration of products.
Many factors may affect the process of deterioration depending the product, its usage,
environments, and the situations. Although many researchers have been working on
the deterioration mechanisms, the mechanisms are often difficult to specify even qualitatively. Our deterioration model depends on only the duration time for simplicity,
we can include other factors to the model when such information is available.
We assume in this paper a simple life cycle model shown in Fig. 24.3. More
detailed life cycle is necessary for practical application. It should cover different
products, diversified usages in various conditions.
Finally, we should implement the proposed simulation for practical applications
and evaluate its effectiveness.
24.8 Conclusion
We designed an integrated simulation in which the part agent predicts the part life
cycle and proposes the maintenance action to the user. We proposed three types of
reuse methods for the simulation as follows: reuse through the market, reuse between
users, and reuse combining these two means. By enable selection of a reuse method
from among multiple methods, it is possible to conduct simulations suitable for
various users.
Acknowledgements This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 15K05772.
Shogo Hashimoto developed the function described in Sect. 4.2.
351
part agents; compare the sum of the profit, cost, and environmental load in each case;
and evaluate in which aspect the part agent can be effectively used.
24.7 Discussion
We have still issues in developing a practical system for life cycle simulation of parts
with part agents.
First issue is the evaluation of the life cycle stages. We use three parameters that are
profit, cost, and environmental load for that purpose. These are same parameters with
elements of TPI except that profit is used instead of value to capture the economic
gain at each time step. These parameters are basic ones but other parameters may
exist for appropriate evaluation of life cycle stages.
Another issue is the deterioration factors that cause deterioration of products.
Many factors may affect the process of deterioration depending the product, its usage,
environments, and the situations. Although many researchers have been working on
the deterioration mechanisms, the mechanisms are often difficult to specify even qualitatively. Our deterioration model depends on only the duration time for simplicity,
we can include other factors to the model when such information is available.
We assume in this paper a simple life cycle model shown in Fig. 24.3. More
detailed life cycle is necessary for practical application. It should cover different
products, diversified usages in various conditions.
Finally, we should implement the proposed simulation for practical applications
and evaluate its effectiveness.
24.8 Conclusion
We designed an integrated simulation in which the part agent predicts the part life
cycle and proposes the maintenance action to the user. We proposed three types of
reuse methods for the simulation as follows: reuse through the market, reuse between
users, and reuse combining these two means. By enable selection of a reuse method
from among multiple methods, it is possible to conduct simulations suitable for
various users.
Acknowledgements This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 15K05772.
Shogo Hashimoto developed the function described in Sect. 4.2.