Simulation

Production and logistics networks are characterized by an increasing dynamic and structural complexity, which makes an efficient planning more difficult. Observed non-linear dynamic effects, which in case of similar causes can lead to different results, contribute additionally to this problem. As a consequence strong inventory fluctuations can appear among others, which represent a strong economically load for network participants. The simulation-supported analysis of these connections is the main focus of this article. Moreover as a result of the analysis ways and means are pointed out, which will help to react more adequately to the given problems.

Logistic systems of automobile terminals are characterised these days by central planning and control processes, which do not allow fast and flexible adaptation of order processing to changing environmental influences caused by the dynamic and complexity in logistics. Process flows of cars on an automobile terminal such as delivery, storage and technical treatment are supported by a conventional, centralised logistic system. By establishing autonomous cooperating logistics processes, the automobiles will be enabled to act independently according to their own objectives and navigate through the logistics network themselves. This paper introduces first approaches of autonomous cooperation in the context of logistics and investigates potential applications in automobile logistics on the example of E. H. Harms Auto-Terminal-Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG.

The design of cross-enterprise production processes can be significantly supported by the systematic usage of process modeling methodologies. The following paper shows current and future research work concerning the Integrated Production Process Model (IPPM). Major improvements are related to the integration both of physical and non-physical products and the closed description of cross enterprise production processes. An integrated modeling methodology based on a predefined process module library supports the design process.

Industry sectors with high energy consumption like the plastics processing industry already have high energy costs. In the short and medium term a further rise in energy prices can be expected. Not only the consumed energy quantity affects the costs but also the energy peaks. By the use of factory simulation the energy peaks of a model are simulated. An optimisation of the logistic control to reduce energy peaks is realised and the effects are described.

In the scope of European Community research projects at ITV Denkendorf new approaches for the management of Dynamically Networked Enterprises have been examined. New conceptions for coordination and planning integration within value added communities in enterprise networks have been developed. They have been implemented on e-business platforms with the help of newly developed knowledge-oriented methodologies for network analysis and design. The article describes the conceptional approaches and highlights the role of knowledge classes for design and management of value added partnerships. Finally, an outlook towards the future design of knowledge repositories for networks is given.

Today’s industrial market is driven by a continuous demand of innovations. In order to improve product quality and to shorten manufacturing time, many companies are substituting old technologies and machines by new ones. However, an effective implementation of a new technology presumes the consideration of all logistic aspects related to it. Because each technology and each machine has different technical and logistic parameters, the implementation in an already existing process chain may require new methods for the logistic planning and control. In this paper the impact of a new technology on the logistic behaviour of the process chain is presented.

The application of automated material flow systems increases the flexibility in automated manufacturing. But there is a weak spot in the development of the control software. This article describes an engineering system for the graphical interactive development of material flow control systems. This system supports the development of the material flow systems including the generation and simulation of the control software and the simulation of the flow of material. The approach for the development of material flow systems and the functionality of the system are introduced using a case study that represents a class of automated material flow systems.

This article gives an answer to the question whether the simulation of business processes, which usually is a one-time activity, is a tool that can be used for a permanent analysis of business procedures. It could then be used as an indicator for necessary organisational changes and for possible optimisation. Furthermore an intuitive user interface will be introduced, which allows to leave the adjustment of the model to the worker inexperienced with concerns of simulation.

In the face of constantly changing market conditions and the associated product and technology changes the available personnel structures must be considered in particular during the further development of manufacturing sys-tems. Experiences from operational practice show that personnel development measures are usually reactive and are often carried out in an improvised, ad-hoc manner. In order to counteract such reactive measures, the technology calendar, with which a timely and targeted personnel development planning can be initiated, is presented.

With emphasis simulation experts in research, consultancy and industry work on the vision of the Digital Factory. This catch phrase, which is especially promoted in the automotive sector, stands for a comprehensive, simulation model of real production systems and their logis-tics. One of the challenges faced by the developers in the realisation of this vision is the integration of big models. The article describes a concept, which supports the horizontal and vertical integration of simulation models.