Towards An Object-oriented Simulation Environment For Manufacturing Systems Analysis

Abstract

Industrial decision-makers need integrated simulation tools to assist them in the modeling, design-of-experiment and output analysis tasks. The object-oriented concept moves the focus towards the a more useful everyday-type of tool that would be organised around the model, the simulation module and a set of instruments.The whole would be tied into the manufacturing system to monitor its behavior according to important variables. This paper introduces COGNOSCO, a modular and evolutionary environment currently under development which follows these principles. It enhances model and component reusability and will encourage the use of the model on a real-time basis to assist in control and management. It will have the ability to learn both from the system and the user and to propose solutions to the problem of recovery from shocks.the creation of reusable blocks, which results in more user-friendly and modular software, which can be applied to a wider range of studies, providing better assistance to the user in completing these studies.This paper introduces an 00 manufacturing simulator developed within the framework of the ASMEMA project (Assistance MEcanique d la MAnutention), the aim of which is to create a tool for the multi-criteria evaluation of manned workspaces. This simulator is the first step towards the development of a "simulation environment" for the analysis of manufacturing systems in accordance with Norman's viewpoint. First, a brief overview of the uses of simulation in manufacturing and of simulation packages is presented to point out the strengths and weaknesses of simulation tools. Then, a similar overview of OQ modeling and simulation is followed by the description of the main modules of our environment. The last section briefly introduces the developments planned or completed thus far.