Title: Forklift free factory: a simulation model to evaluate different transportation systems in the automotive industry

Authors: Karel Bauters; Tim Govaert; Veronique Limère; Hendrik Van Landeghem

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Ghent University, Technologie Park 903, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium ' Department of Industrial Management, Ghent University, Technologie Park 903, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium ' Department of Industrial Management, Ghent University, Technologie Park 903, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium ' Department of Industrial Management, Ghent University, Technologie Park 903, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium

Abstract: This paper describes the results of a large project executed in the automotive industry. The goal of the project was to simulate different transportation systems (EMS, AGV and tugger) in order to compare their performances. In our simulation, we focused on investigating the following parameters: amount of loading stations, equipment and operators needed, and storage place at the line.

Keywords: simulation; forklift trucks; electrified monorail systems; EMS; automatic guided vehicles; AGVs; tuggers; kitting; modelling; factory transport systems; automotive manufacturing; automobile industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2015.068329

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2015 Vol.7 No.2, pp.238 - 259

Published online: 31 Mar 2015 *

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