Title :
A Micro Saint model of conveyor management strategies
Author :
Laughery, K. Ronald
Author_Institution :
Micro Anal. & Design Inc., Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract :
This paper discusses a simulation project that assessed the cost-effectiveness of modifying a highly complex conveyor system. An automobile component manufacturer was attempting to increase plant capacity by incorporating a dynamically programmable conveyor system. The question was whether the large investment would be justified by the increase in plant capacity. To answer this question, Micro Saint simulation models were constructed and validated for the baseline conveyor system. Then, these models were used to evaluate increases in throughput and utilization that would be gained by different scenario in 1) different conveyor programming strategies, 2) increases in conveyor demand, and 3) changes in conveyor demand variability. The results of the study indicated that plant capacity would be increased with a dynamically programmable conveyor systems, but perhaps not enough to warrant the investment
Keywords :
automobile industry; conveyors; digital simulation; industrial control; Micro Saint simulation models; automobile component manufacturer; conveyor demand variability; conveyor management strategies; cost-effectiveness; dynamically programmable conveyor system; plant capacity; simulation project; Bars; Computational modeling; Hardware; Investments; Manufacturing processes; Paints; Production facilities; Production systems; Total quality management; Virtual manufacturing;
Conference_Titel :
Simulation Conference Proceedings, 1995. Winter
Conference_Location :
Arlington, VA
Print_ISBN :
0-78033018-8
DOI :
10.1109/WSC.1995.478864