We adapt production systems so that they can respond quickly and efficiently to dynamic requirements. This includes the implementation of adaptive automation solutions that enable retooling and adaptation to make the production process more flexible and resilient. At its core, flexilient automation works by applying a feedback loop that continuously monitors and analyzes the current state of the production line. Then, if necessary, the system’s behavior is modified to ensure that its performance remains as good as possible.
We recommend combining strategies at different levels to successfully establish a flexilient system. From an architectural perspective, a design that encourages modularity and a high degree of self-organization is ideal, as it provides a good foundation for recombining the system functionality into new behaviors. For modelling the physical production line, it is advantageous to build digital twins that mirror the current state of machinery, as this improves the availability of monitoring data. Additionally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques can be applied to assist with the modification of the system’s behavior, including automated code generation and other engineering aids.