Manufacturing process modelling and simulation

Abstract

In this study an approach to process mapping and information collection for a factory simulation model is proposed. Production flowcharts and other representations of production systems often lack clarity and there are many different approaches in process modelling. For companies manufacturing production machinery, there is a need for research on application of factory simulation to understand and anticipate the requirements of the production system around supplied machines. Customer needs are better met when knowledge of the entire production system is at high level. Research questions (RQs) in this study are: RQ1) How should manufacturing process be studied to gain sufficient information for process modelling? RQ2) What information and parameters of the process are most relevant in a factory simulation project? RQ3) How can a model be created from production system data, and how does that model describe the production system? Relevant concepts for understanding production flow, process layout, process capacity, and simulation are described in the literature review. In the empirical part of this thesis, a factory simulation model is done as a case study. The key findings of this study include process modelling and simulation framework, list of required information for a process modelling and simulation project, customizable production simulation model, and definition of KPIs for this model.