Self-organized critical \u26 complex adaptive systems in a simulated manufacturing environment

The application of this thesis compares three different manufacturing theories, varying on resource allocation, to decide which performs best. Three Resource Allocation methods are analyzed including a static resource allocation method, a semidynamic resource allocation method, and a dynamic resource allocation method. The last methodology used in this thesis develops a resource allocation method intended to display complex behavior. A Base Case manufacturing simulation is developed to represent a static resource allocation system. A Theory of Constraints manufacturing model using the Theory of Constraints process represents a semi-dynamic resource allocation system. A Complex Adaptive System manufacturing model using autonomous agents represents a dynamic resource allocation system. The systems were analyzed at multiple stress levels for system to system performance, as well as for complex behavior. Dynamic resource allocation outperformed the semi-dynamic allocation and static allocation systems unilaterally. Some complex behavior was displayed for elements of some models, but as a whole, a trend of increasing complexity did not emerge as the models were analyzed from the Base Case, to Theory of Constraints, to the Complex Adaptive System