MANUPLAN: a precursor to simulation for complex manufacturing systems

  • Authors:

  • Rajan Suri;Gregory W. Diehl

  • Affiliations:

  • Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, Dept. of Industrial Engineering, Madison, WI;Network Dynamics, Inc., 1218 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA

  • Venue:
  • WSC '85 Proceedings of the 17th conference on Winter simulation
  • Year:
  • 1985

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Abstract

MANUPLAN is a tool for designing and analyzing manufacturing systems. In the early stages of manufacturing systems planning, it offers an efficient alternative to simulation modelling. MANUPLAN is based on a state-of-the-art analytical model. It is practical and easy to use, being simpler and quicker than simulations model. In a typical case, a system design that would have taken several weeks to evaluate using simulation was evaluated in under two days with MANUPLAN. Inputs to MANUPLAN are the basic system design data: information on part routing, equipment capacities and reliabilities, and production requirements. Outputs from MANUPLAN include part flow times, work-in-process levels, equipment utilizations, and production rates achieved. Each run by MANUPLAN takes only a few seconds. By changing the system design data, manufacturing designers can quickly understand the trade-offs between inventory levels, production requirements, flow times, and equipment reliabilities, for their system.