Title: Proactive production activity control by online simulation

Authors: Olivier Cardin; Pierre Castagna

Addresses: LUNAM Université, IUT de Nantes – Université de Nantes, IRCCyN UMR CNRS 6597 (Institut de Recherche en Communications et Cybernétique de Nantes), 2 avenue du Pr Jean Rouxel, 44475 Carquefou, France. ' LUNAM Université, IUT de Nantes – Université de Nantes, IRCCyN UMR CNRS 6597 (Institut de Recherche en Communications et Cybernétique de Nantes), 2 avenue du Pr Jean Rouxel, 44475 Carquefou, France

Abstract: In this paper, we present a new application of discrete-event simulation as a forecasting tool for the decision support of the production activity control of a complex manufacturing system. The specificity of such an application of simulation is the short term of the forecasts. This specificity implies that the initial state of the simulation takes into account the actual state of the system. The development on a real-size flexible manufacturing system shows the technical feasibility of the developed concepts and the potential benefits on the productivity of a single example.

Keywords: decision support; online simulation; real-time simulation; simulation initialisation; observer; synchronisation; production activity control; production control; discrete event simulation; forecasting; flexible manufacturing systems; FMS control; FMS simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2011.044766

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2011 Vol.6 No.3, pp.177 - 186

Published online: 06 Jan 2012 *

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