Simulation of the buffer area between suppliers and users in a just-in-time environment-the `Regulator´

The paper is the result of a joint project between Ingersoll engineers and Coventry Polytechnic. Problems associated with the mismatch between demand-driven production and forecast based planning are discussed. A method of handling this mismatch by means of a Regulator is proposed. A practical software tool to aid Regulator development is outlined and tested on actual applications. The software tool is written in SIMAN simulation language, and is animated using CINEMA