Simulation of a welding and grinding cell

Manufacturing simulation is one of the main application areas of simulation technology and it is used to predict system performance or to compare different scenarios. It includes both facility design as well as supply chain modelling. Facility design involves aspects like equipment selection/layout, control strategies (push vs. pull), buffer sizing, etc. On the other hand, supply chain models are used to study the whole supply chain, involving distribution centres, transportation systems and multiple production facilities. A simulation model is a tool used for experimenting with manufacturing systems which are infeasible or non cost-effective. For this reason, it is important to determine whether the model is an accurate representation of the system we want to study. Thus, it must to be valid and credible: otherwise, the results may never be used in the decision-making process. This thesis discusses how simulation is used to improve the performance and design of manufacturing systems. It addresses the problem of designing and setting the right equipment as well as the right layout of the process line. In order to find good solutions they are commonly measured throughput, time in system, time spend in queues, queue sizes, timeless of deliveries, utilization of equipment and personnel, etc. Different scenarios are presented and different alternatives are considered depending on the resources available and the results we want to achieve.Validerat; 20101217 (root