Title: Assessment of appropriate production process: a simulation-based study

Authors: Abu Saleh Md. Nakib Uddin; Fahima Akter Azrin; Shahriar Tanvir Alam

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Military Institute of Science and Technology, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Military Institute of Science and Technology, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Military Institute of Science and Technology, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh

Abstract: An appropriate production process is a critical challenge in today's competitive world. In this study, four different types of manufacturing systems in a production line: 'fixed manufacturing system (manual)', 'fixed manufacturing system (automated)', 'flexible manufacturing system', and 'programmable manufacturing system' have been analysed and evaluated using Rockwell ARENA Software. This study has implemented a discrete event simulation model and data collection techniques to help in rational decision-making to figure out what might be the best solution for the production line. The result illustrates that the four different manufacturing systems: fixed manual, fixed automated, flexible, and programmable; produce an output of 237, 303, 397, and 505 units respectively. The extended lines of programmable manufacturing systems produce nearly two times more output than the flexible manufacturing system.

Keywords: simulation; fixed manufacturing system; flexible manufacturing system; programmable manufacturing system; Industry 4.0; ARENA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2025.149985

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2025 Vol.52 No.3, pp.401 - 421

Received: 11 May 2023
Accepted: 19 Jun 2023
Published online: 20 Nov 2025 *

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