A simulation based system for manufacturing process optimisation

Simulation models have been extensively used in manufacturing to enhance the design, planning and decision making processes. However, the tendency has been to use simulation in one-off applications, often at the start of a project and not take account of inherent process changes over time. This has inhibited their contribution as a realtime decision make tool. This paper describes how simulation is used as a component of an integrated optimisation platform to support real-time decision making in a highly variable manufacturing process environment where outputs are stochastic. The paper follows by proposing an integrated framework for addressing issues of process variability in simulation based systems.