Modeling and simulation method to find and eliminate bottlenecks in production logistics systems

The paper presents the method of modeling and simulation of production logistics systems. Finding and eliminating bottlenecks is the main goal of this method. Production system is identified using IDEF0 methodology. The model is constructed as a system of equations, which describe the elements of the production system in the relationships between them. The special category of resources - logistics resources is distinguished. A special parameter called “flow” is introduced. The algorithms to compute this parameter and to use it in order to find and eliminate bottlenecks are described. The results of simulation experiment are presented.

1 INTRODUCTION

The method of the fast analysis of production logistics systems using simulation was developed by the authors of this paper. The suggested simulation represents MRP simulation type (Ingalls 2008; Lee, Son and Wysk 2007). However, due to some of its features, the simulation exceeds the typical range of MRP kind of simulation. It is assumed that MRP simulations are the forecasting ‘what-if’ simulations which are usually related to specific, individual situations - case study (Byme and Bakir 1999). The proposed method can be located between operational and tactic level. (Kosturiak and Gregor 1999). See Figure 1. The presented solution suggests the method of modelling the production logistics system and the method of finding and eliminating bottlenecks with use of simulation. This is a solution of a universal kind, which makes it possible to apply the method to analyzing various structures of production processes.