Simulation of distributed manufacturing enterprises: A new approach

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new, cost-effective approach for distributed manufacturing simulation that simplifies development and implementation, aiding enterprises in evaluating virtual partnerships efficiently.

Contribution

It presents a formal methodology and practical implementation approach for distributed manufacturing simulation using commercial software and accessible technologies.

Findings

Enhanced decision-making in distributed manufacturing

Reduced complexity and development time for simulation

Promoted wider industrial adoption of distributed simulation

Abstract

The globalization of markets and world-wide competition forces manufacturing enterprises to enter into alliances leading to the creation of distributed manufacturing enterprises. Before forming a partnership it is essential to evaluate viability of proposed enterprise as well as how a companys operations are affected by the proposed virtual enterprise. Distributed simulation provides an attractive tool to make decisions on such situations. However, due to its complexity and high cost distributed simulation failed to gain a wide acceptance from industrial users. This paper presents a new approach for distributed manufacturing simulation (DMS) including a formal methodology for DMS and, implementation approach using current commercial simulation software, employing widely available and cost effective technologies. The main objective of this work is to promote the use of distributed simulation particularly in distributed manufacturing by making it fast to develop and less complicated for implementation.