Simulation applied to production scheduling

Examines the developments that have occurred in the field of simulation tools with associated graphics support, relational databases, shop floor data collection systems and powerful computer hardware based on personal computers or workstations that has enabled the potential for using an online computer model of a manufacturing plant to predict future performance over short time periods. Examples are given where the simulation model of an FMS has been used as a vehicle to assess the viability of a proposed schedule generated by some other computer based system. The basis of a development programme to link real-time control with a simulator and expert system is described