Integrating soft systems methodology to aid simulation conceptual modeling

Pereira, Tábata Fernandes; Montevechi, José Arnaldo Barra; Miranda, Rafael de Carvalho; Friend, Jonathan Daniel

doi:10.1111/itor.12133

Cited by 32 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(76 reference statements)

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“…There have been various examples of studies combining SSM and DES in the OR literature, most of them in healthcare, with only one example to our knowledge outside health services, in manufacturing (Pereira, Montevechi, Miranda, & Friend, 2015). Most of these studies focus on the use of SSM to support the conceptual modelling stage of the simulation process (Holm & Dahl, 2011;Kotiadis, 2007;Kotiadis, Tako, & Vasilakis, 2014;Lehaney & Paul, 1994, 1996Pereira et al, 2015). Only a few papers report on SSM being used in the full process (Holm, Bjornenak, Kjaeserud, & Noddeland, 2017;Holm, Dahl, & Barra, 2013;Lehaney, Clarke, & Paul, 1999;Tako & Kotiadis, 2015).…”

Section: Combining Ssm and Desmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Soft Systems Methodology, ethnographic observation, and discrete-event simulation: A case study in cancer care

Lamé

Jouini

Cardinal

2019

Journal of the Operational Research Society

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We describe a project where discrete-event simulation (DES) is combined with Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and ethnographic observation to support the improvement of patient flows in an outpatient chemotherapy unit and a chemotherapy preparation pharmacy unit. The project combines three interesting characteristics. First, we rely on ethnographic observation to explore the problem situation and frame the problem, a technique rarely reported in operational research (OR). Second, this leads us to define several root definitions, an aspect that remains overlooked in studies combining SSM and DES. Finally, the project stands at the interface between two departments (outpatient oncology unit and chemotherapy preparation pharmacy unit), a situation seldom explored in healthcare OR but where SSM has arguably a lot to offer to help identify and accommodate diverging objectives. We framed the problem, developed a simulation model, explored scenarios and refined a preferred one into a new business process. However, the proposed changes were not implemented. We analyse the outcomes of the project, the contribution of each method and their integration into an intervention. The paper provides insights on how SSM and DES can be combined in practice, and how the potential of ethnographic observation can be leveraged in this context.

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Section: Combining Ssm and Desmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Soft Systems Methodology, ethnographic observation, and discrete-event simulation: A case study in cancer care

Lamé

Jouini

Cardinal

2019

Journal of the Operational Research Society

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“…We performed the conceptual modeling of the system through the IDEF-SIM language, developed by (Montevechi et al 2010). The symbols used are directly translated from the conceptual model for the computer model, presenting elements of the simulation, e.g., entities, locations, resources, functions, controls, logical rules and transport (Pereira et al 2015). Figure 1 shows the patient flow.…”

Section: Conceptual Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lean healthcare integrated with discrete event simulation and design of experiments: an emergency department expansion

Gabriel

Campos

Magacho

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background. Discrete Event Simulation (DES) and Lean Healthcare are management tools that are efficient and assist in the quality and efficiency of health services. In this sense, the purpose of the study is to use lean principles jointly with DES to plan the expansion of a Canadian emergency department and to the demand that comes from small closed care centers. Methods. For this, we used simulation and modeling method. We simulated the emergency department in FlexSim Healthcare® software and, with the Design of Experiments (DoE), we defined the optimal number of locations and resources for each shift. Results. The results show that the ED cannot meet expected demand in the current state. Only 17.2% of the patients were completed treated, and the Length of Stay (LOS), on average, was 2213.7, with a confidence interval of (2131.8 - 2295.6) minutes. However, after changing decision variables, the number of treated patients increased to 95.7% (approximately 600%). Average LOS decreased to 461.2, with a confidence interval of (453.7 - 468.7) minutes, about 79.0%. In addition, the study shows that emergency department staff are balanced, according to Lean principles.

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“…Then, a conceptual model is built and all required data are collected. IDEF-SIM (PEREIRA et al, 2015) technic was choosen to build the conceptual model. Exemples of collected data are: batch size, production frequency for each product, setup time, downtime and time to machine be repaired.…”

Section: Modeling and Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this, IDEF-SIM mapping technique was used (PEREIRA et al, 2015), in order to map process and resources activities.…”

Section: Construction and Validation Of The Conceptual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

<b>Using discrete event simulation to change from a functional layout to a cellular layout in an auto parts industry

et al. 2015

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ABSTRACT. This paper presents a discrete event simulation employed in a Brazilian automotive company. There was a huge waste caused by one family scrap. It was believed one reason was the company functional layout. In this case, changing from current to cellular layout, employee synergy and knowledge about this family would increase. Due to the complexity for dimensioning a new cellular layout, mainly because of batch size and client's demand variation. In this case, discrete event simulation was used, which made possible to introduce those effects improving accuracy in final results. This accuracy will be shown by comparing results obtained with simulation and without it (as company used to do). To conclude, cellular layout was responsible for increasing 15% of productivity, reducing lead-time in 7 days and scrap in 15% for this family.Keywords: productivity, efficiency, scrap, lead-time.Utilização da simulação de eventos discretos para alterar o leiaute funcional em celular em uma empresa de auto peças RESUMO. O presente artigo apresenta um projeto de simulação de eventos discretos realizado em uma empresa do setor automotivo do Brasil. Nela existia uma grande perda em decorrência do índice de refugo elevado de uma família de produtos. Acreditava-se que um dos motivos era a organização funcional do leiaute, pois os funcionários não ficavam especializados em um tipo de produto. Portanto, se o leiaute fosse alterado para o celular, a sinergia dos funcionários e a especialização em um determinado produto seriam maiores. Devido à complexidade no dimensionamento da célula, principalmente pela variação no tamanho do lote de produção e na demanda do cliente, foi utilizada a simulação, possibilitando introduzir essas variações no modelo computacional, tornando o resultado do estudo mais preciso. Por fim, com a criação da célula a empresa aumentou em 15% a produtividade, reduzindo 7 dias do seu tempo de atravessamento e 15% do seu refugo.Palavras-chave: produtividade, eficiência, refugo, tempo de atravessamento.

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Integrating soft systems methodology to aid simulation conceptual modeling

Cited by 32 publications

References 28 publications

Combining Soft Systems Methodology, ethnographic observation, and discrete-event simulation: A case study in cancer care

Combining Soft Systems Methodology, ethnographic observation, and discrete-event simulation: A case study in cancer care

Lean healthcare integrated with discrete event simulation and design of experiments: an emergency department expansion

<b>Using discrete event simulation to change from a functional layout to a cellular layout in an auto parts industry

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