DES Configurators for Rapid Virtual Prototyping and Optimisation of Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

In the framework of the COPERNICO research project configurators were developed under the Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software environment, which support the rapid creation of the discrete event simulation (DES) models of several types of manufacturing systems. With the use of the configurators after defining the required input data – such as the product mix, production processes, layout prototype, etc. – the DES models of the manufacturing system alternatives will be automatically created. The layout prototypes are based on a cladistics classification of manufacturing systems. The aim of the configurators is not only to purely create the simulation models but also to create models that can be used for further optimisations, that can be done e.g. by using the built in genetic algorithms tool, based on specific objectives. In this paper some research results are demonstrated on how the configurators create DES models and how the models can be applied.