ManPy: An Open-Source Layer of DES Manufacturing Objects Implemented in SimPy

This paper presents a new Discrete Event Simulation (DES) engine focused in the modelling of manufacturing systems. This work is part of an FP7 project titled "Decision support in Real-time for Efficient Agile Manufacturing" (DREAM) which started in October of 2012. As a first step of our work a review of open-source simulation tools was carried out and the results indicated that SimPy could provide a basis for developing a simulation application development platform. Using SimPy we created a layer of basic manufacturing objects, which we named Many (Manufacturing in Python). Many was tested in several model topologies for its accuracy, speed and expandability. In parallel to this work a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is being developed separately, but having in mind that the two modules will cooperate. Results are demonstrated and insight as to how this work will be expanded to a modular, semantic free open simulation application development platform is presented.