Title: A comparison of simulation and metamodelling approaches for production rate determination

Authors: Shanthi Muthuswamy; Murali Krishnamurthi

Addresses: Department of Technology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115, USA. ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115, USA

Abstract: Decision-making using simulation can be difficult, if day-to-day decisions have to be made using lengthy simulation runs. In situations where decisions are required quickly, an auxiliary model of a simulation model, called the metamodel, can be used. This metamodel is a regression model developed using the inputs and outputs of the simulation model developed for a problem. In this study, simulation and metamodels of a real-life production scenario were developed and validated for the purpose of comparing the two methodologies. The validation results justified that the metamodel could be used to estimate the response variable accurately and quickly. Along with modelling and analysing the present operation, four alternative scenarios were developed and validated to explore the possibility of improving the operation. The metamodels developed can be used for effective decision-making without the need for any specialised software or training.

Keywords: simulation; metamodelling; production rates; comparison; experimental design; regression; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2011.045445

International Journal of Advanced Operations Management, 2011 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.309 - 325

Received: 23 Apr 2010
Accepted: 27 Dec 2010

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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