Title: Enriching the formalism of coloured Petri nets for modelling alternative structural configurations of a discrete event system: disjunctive CPN

Authors: Juan Ignacio Latorre-Biel; Mercedes Pérez De La Parte; Emilio Jiménez-Macías

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain ' Department of Electrical Engineering, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain

Abstract: Discrete event systems (DESs) provide an approximate approach for dealing with certain types of real systems. DES has been extensively and successfully used in modelling and simulation of technological systems and processes. In this field, coloured Petri nets (CPNs) have arisen as a practical formalism for modelling discrete event systems, widely used thanks to the easiness of their application, as well as the compactness of the resulting models, and the availability of computer software, ready to be used for modelling, simulation, theoretical analysis, as well as performance evaluation. This paper derives from the CPN, a formalism focused on modelling discrete event systems with alternative structural configurations. That is to say, systems with freedom degrees in their structure, which should be solved by decision-makers, deducing the best configuration among a set of alternative structures.

Keywords: disjunctive CPN; coloured Petri nets; alternative structural configurations; manufacturing facilities; DES design; decision support systems; DSS; discrete event systems; DES modelling; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2017.082805

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2017 Vol.12 No.1, pp.92 - 101

Received: 05 Feb 2015
Accepted: 25 Feb 2016
Published online: 12 Mar 2017 *

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