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During the last decades, the production systems have developed different strategies to increase their competitiveness in the global market. In a manufacturing and services systems, Lean Manufacturing has been consolidated through the correct implementation of its tools. The present paper presents a case study developed in a Food Packer company where a Simulation Model was considered as an alternative to reduce the waste time generated by the poor distribution of operations and transportation areas for a product within the factory. As a matter of fact, the company has detected problems on the layout distribution that prevents to fulfill the market demand. In addition, the principal aim was to create a simulation model to test different hypothetical scenarios and alternative designs for the layout distribution without modifying its facilities. Moreover, the implemented methodology was based on classical models of simulation projects and a compendium of the manufacturing systems optimization by simulation process used during the last ten years. Also, a mathematic model supported by the Promodel ® simulation software was developed considering the company characteristics; along with the model development, it was possible to compare the production system performance from the percentage of used locations, the percentage of resources utilization, the number of finished products, and the level of Work in Process (WIP). Finally, the verification and validation stages were performed before running the scenarios in the real production area. The results generated by the implementation of the project represent an increase of 68% in the production capacity and a reduction of 5% in the WIP. In addition, both outcomes are associated with the resources management, which were reassigned to other production areas.

This paper discusses Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology to know their evolution and trends, analyzing the materials, workforce, machinery, methods, and management been used. A literature review is done regarding FFF usage between 2010–2020. Data is analyzed for identify the countries that are applying this technology, the industrial sector, academic resources available and a curve is fitted to data for forecasting a trend until 2025. Projections indicate a growth of 300% for workforce in FFF usage for 2025, 280% for machinery, 312% for materials, 275% for the creation and modification of methods and, 320% growth for management activities.