Assessment of fidelity of control-theoretic models of WIP regulation in networks of autonomous work systems

One means of adapting to variation in demand is making capacity flexible so that work in progress (WIP) can be regulated; however, this can significantly influence the dynamic behavior of production networks in which there is high local autonomy. Control-theoretic models are a convenient means for investigating and designing the dynamics of such networks, but the fidelity of these models is not well understood. In this paper, results obtained using discrete-event simulations are used to assess the control-theoretic approach, providing evidence that fidelity varies depending upon factors such as WIP level and the magnitude of capacity adjustments.