Simulation Modeling of a Manufacturing Enterprise with Complex Material, Information and Control Flows

modeling, simulation, enterprise modeling, enterprise simulation, Order-toShip process, objectoriented simulation, manufacturing enterprise modeling, manufacturing modeling, objectoriented modeling This paper describes practical problems encountered in modeling and simulating complex system interactions in a manufacturing enterprise. In addition to Production, the interactions of diverse activities such 88 Sales Forecasting, Order Processing, Production planning, Material Requirements Planning, Material Procurement and Distribution are considered. The preliminary results of such modeling and simulation are described. A graphical model of the Order-toShip (OTS) process, which consisted of the activities that occurred between the receipt of orders and the shipment of products within a factory, was built using Hierarchical Process Modeling (HPM), derived from IDEF-O. Simulation model components for the OTS process were built using Object· Oriented Programming and Discrete-Event Simulation concepts. These reusable components were implemented in the class structure of the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) within a Manufacturing Enterprise Simulator (MES). on which di1ferent Manufacturing Enterprise Models (MEMs), including the OTS model, could be executed. Simulating factory operations with the OTS model to generate system performance measures such 88 Order Bacldog and Finished Goods Inventory provided preliminary results on why customers experience delivery delays when the manufacturing enterprise bas plenty offinisbed goods on hand.