Digital twin-based production logistics resource optimisation configuration method in smart cloud manufacturing environment

Abstract

To adapt to the dynamic, diverse, and personalised needs of customers, manufacturing enterprises face the challenge of continuously adjusting their resource structure. This has led manufacturers to shift towards a smart cloud manufacturing mode in order to build highly flexible production logistics (PL) systems. In these systems, the optimal configuring of PL resources is fundamental for daily logistics planning and vehicle scheduling control, providing necessary resources for the entire PL segment. However, traditional resource configuration methods face limitations, such as incomplete information acquisition, slow response in resource configuration, and suboptimal configuration results, leading to high subsequent operational costs and inefficient logistics transportation. These issues limit the performance of the PL system. To address these challenges, the authors propose a digital twin-based optimisation model and method for smart cloud PL resources. The approach begins with constructing an optimisation model for the PL system considering the quality of service for a cloud resource is constructed, aiming to minimise the number of logistics vehicles and the total cost of the PL system. Additionally, a DT-based decision framework for optimising smart cloud PL resources is proposed. Alongside a DT-based dynamic configuration strategy for smart cloud PL resources is designed. By developing a multi-teacher grouping teaching strategy and a cross-learning strategy, the teaching and learning strategies of the standard teaching-learning-based optimisation algorithm are improved. Finally, numerical simulation experiments were conducted on the logistics transportation process of a cooperating enterprise, verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and strategies. The findings of this study provide valuable references for the management of PL resources and algorithm design in advanced manufacturing modes.