Simulation of hierarchical manufacturing control

This paper addresses a new unified framework for simulation that includes both physical and decision making processes of manufacturing systems. The developed methodology uses a state-space representation based simulation-modeling formalism along with object oriented software design. The modularity of userʹs conceptual model in terms of physical and decision making entities with their programmed and non-programmed decisions and the capability of modeling these entities and processes at different hierarchical levels can vastly improves simulationʹs role as a decision making tool.