SIMULATION AS AN APPROACH TO SEIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF A CELLULAR SYSTEM

Serguei Saavedra
Universidad Panamericana, 498 Augusto Rodin, 03920, Mexico City
School of Engineering
Balam Simulation Group
McLeod Institute for Simulation Sciences, Mexico City
serguei_saavedra@mexico.com

Keywords
Closed loop manufacturing systems, DEVS
formalism, FMS, production systems, cellular
manufacturing.

Abstract
Many production systems combine the sophisticated
industrial equipment with advanced computer and
information technology to impart flexibility to the
process operations. In this way, the changing
costumer’s needs are effectively met. Besides a good
strategy, the design and comprehension of the
productive system represent the core for the correct
system operation. Nevertheless, the analysis gets
complicated when the material flow goes through
closed loop systems with computer automated
processes governed by logical conditions. That is the
reason why simulation becomes a great tool to obtain
the necessary information of the capacities and
operation of the system, in a fast way and without
risking production. The aim of this work is to prove
how a simulation methodology could perfectly serve as
a reliable way to seize the performance of a closed loop
flexible manufacturing system, in order to design and
optimize its operation; and pretends to be useful for
other complex production systems. The methodology
proposed by this article is the well known Discrete
Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism.