Integration of simulation and analytical submodels for supporting manufacturing decisions

This work describes the concept and prototype software to assist in parameter adjustments when engaged in the trial and error search process of tuning a manufacturing simulation. The concept uses simple analytical models of the simulation which are amenable to optimization schemes and can provide ‘good’ initial parameter values. The menu-driven prototype is illustrated with four decision situations in operations planning that would normally be resolved by successive simulations. The work shows that analytical models and optimization schemes can be integrated with simulation to accelerate the search process, and thereby shows an avenue where expert systems and simulation can meet.