This study proposes a new synchronization algorithm for a distributed system, which is used to integrate various manufacturing simulators. The synchronization algorithm is a modified time-driven approach. It is specialized to integrate a continuous time simulation tool like IGRIP with a control tool like SoftLogix. The proposed algorithm executes a simulation in parallel as much as possible and guarantees the level of accuracy needed. In particular, the control tools are exactly simulated in most manufacturing systems.
The algorithm is investigated theoretically as well as practically. A mathematical model is built in this research. The DMSE synchronization algorithm is proved based on the formalism. DMSE—Distributed Manufacturing Simulation Environment is designed and implemented to verify the algorithm in this study.
The contributions of the author in this research include: proposed the synchronization algorithm; proved the algorithm mathematically; designed and implemented the DMSE architecture, server, IGRIP, and QUEST clients.