Discrete-event simulation of conveyor systems

The work has been carried out at Saab Automobile AB (Saab) in Trollhättan, Sweden, with focus on discrete-event simulation and manufacturing logistics. We would like to express our gratitude to all of you who have contributed to this work! Especially for you Andreas Ardhus, Project Engineer as well as our tutor at Saab, for your supervision and guidance; Johan Nordling, Consultant at Siemens Industry Software AB, for your assistance in Technomatix Plant Simulation; and Hans Sjöberg, for letting us use all the computers in the Product and Production Development laboratory when running the experiments. Nevertheless, we would like to thank all of You employees at Saab who have supported us with necessary information and data. Without you, this work had never been accomplished! A great thank to all of you! At last we would like to take the opportunity to encourage engineering students to take advantage of computerized simulation when providing evidence and support for important decisions. Simulation is a powerful problem solving tool for many real-world problems. This is something that we came to realize during the work at Saab. Abstract Background & Problem: This study represents a closing work of our Master degree in Production Engineering and has been carried out at Saab Automobile AB (Saab) in Trollhättan, Sweden. Today, a critical activity in Saab´s body plant is the logistics of Side Panels Outer (SPO) and Side Panels Inner (SPI). These panels are transported with so-called carriers and it happens too often that car bodies on the production main line have to wait on these carriers (including panels). Thus, the productivity is suffering. In addition, Saab will start producing an all-new 9-3 model in year 2012. The introduction of model 540 will put new requirements on the Future Production System (FPS) and an identification whether the system will manage these is of necessity. For this purpose, Saab wants to use a tool to produce objective decision support. One such a tool is discrete-event simulation (DES).