Flexible modeling of manufacturing systems with variable levels of detail

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of three simulation packages: VS7, SIMAN/CINEMA IV, and SIMFACTORY II.5. These packages were investigated with regard to their capabilities of modeling problems related to a Manufacturing Systems Design (MSD) Framework, which involves different levels of detail. These levels are the Conceptual Modeling level and the Detailed Design level. The investigation is based on a case study which relates to manufacturing systems. The main objective of this-investigation was to examine the existing manufacturing simulation packages and their abilities to offer variable detail modeling. The paper also suggests that it may not be possible to have an existing simulation environment that offers flexible facilities for variable detail modeling of manufacturing systems. The paper presents a method of data arrangement that may be able to help existing simulation packages cope with problems of detail variability.