An Advanced Modeling & Simulation Tool for Investigating the Behavior of a Manufacturing System in the Hazelnuts Industry Sector

Abstract

Abstract: This article proposes an advanced java-based simulation tool developed in order to support decision making in a manufacturing system operating in the hazelnuts industry sector. By providing the user with high flexibility in terms of manufacturing scenarios definition, the simulation tool can be used as an advanced decision-making tool to understand the dynamic interactions between multiple performance measures (that include both production lines and inventory system performances) and a set of user-defined factors (the latter defined by the production manager according to his/her needs in terms of manufacturing scenarios investigation). To understand how the simulation model can be used as decision-making tool and for testing the tool effectiveness, simulation results analyses and analytical meta-models are provided for different manufacturing scenarios.