Understanding modular manufacturing in the apparel industry using simulation

The authors summarize the use of simulation in understanding the operational characteristics of modular manufacturing in the apparel industry. The system is well balanced, with 13 stations and five operators even though there is a wide variation in station cycle times. This balancing is achieved by the ability of the operators to move within the module. Operator utilization was 100 percent, while station utilization varied widely as a function of station cycle time simulations were carried out with the WITNESS simulation system