No abstract

The optimization of material flow systems requires a profound understanding of the underlying processes. Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is an established way of creating a process model that allows an interdisciplinary analysis and optimization. Quantitative exploration of systems using discrete-event simulation can help to enrich these insights. For that reason, this paper introduces a combined BPMN-simulation approach that connects the advantages of both modeling frameworks. By synthesizing systems from generic modules, a comprehensive yet structured optimization process chain is developed. A case study evaluation based on key metrics for material flow operations proves the applicability of the methodology.

In a turbulent environment with changing conditions and requirements and the advance of Industry 4.0, transformability is an important aspect for material flow systems along their entire product life cycle. It must be considered already in early development phases and plays a key role in the operation of a system up to eventual retrofits. Therefore, transformability can help in making material flow systems reusable and thus more sustainable. Developments in the state of the art make change management a challenging task since specifications from several mechatronic domains need to be considered in a multi-disciplinary project environment. This paper analyzes established approaches that have been developed in research works, and combines these findings with the view of practitioners and thereby deduces a collection of requirements for the consistent development and operation of material flow systems. These requirements cover necessary models of the system and the participants in the development process, as well as the consideration of life cycle-related aspects for all components. After that, it is discussed which requirements are already partially met by existing approaches and which aspects need to be developed in the future to reach the objective of improved transformability in the product life cycle of material flow systems.

No abstract

The optimization of material flow systems requires a profound understanding of the underlying processes. Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is an established way of creating a process model that allows an interdisciplinary analysis and optimization. Quantitative exploration of systems using discrete-event simulation can help to enrich these insights. For that reason, this paper introduces a combined BPMN simulation approach that connects the advantages of both modeling frameworks. By synthesizing systems from generic modules, a comprehensive yet structured optimization process chain is developed. A case study evaluation based on key metrics for material flow.