Cloud-fog-edge based computing architechture and a hierarchical decision approach for distributed synchronized manufacturing systems

Abstract

The demand for personalized products and rapid delivery has driven manufacturers to outsource a significant portion of their production and logistics tasks to collaborators, resulting in a gradual decentralization of manufacturing systems and the emergence of distributed manufacturing networks. This shift introduces three key challenges: (1) Security concerns prevent full transparency in resource and information sharing across enterprises; (2) Decentralized decision-making structures create conflicts of interest in multi-party collaborations; (3) Strong interdependence between production and logistics processes leads to mutual constraints in order allocation, production, and transportation. To address these, this paper analyzes the collaborative relationships between manufacturers and multiple collaborators and constructs a hierarchical control network of synchronized actions. A cloud-fog-edge-based hierarchical computing architechture is proposed to support distributed synchronized manufacturing scenarios, focusing on the core control modules. Finally, an Analytical Target Cascading (ATC) based production–distribution synchronization model is developed. In the experimental section, two strategies are examined: Hierarchical Synchronous Control (HSC) and Conventional Synchronous Control (CSC). Experimental results demonstrate that the HSC strategy effectively improves the collaborative efficiency of production and logistics, enhances order fulfillment rates, strengthens the system’s resilience to disturbances, and significantly reduces the overall operational costs of distributed synchronized manufacturing system.