Process planning simulation: An FMS modeling tool for engineers

Abstract

Simulation methods are effectively used to investigate design issues of a proposed flexible manufacturing system (FMS). Un fortunately, process design engineers rarely have the necessary expertise to take full advantage of simulation methodology. Pro cess Planning Simulation (PPS) is a software package which allows engineers with virtually no simulation expertise to define FMS designs and generate the simulation code necessary to model designs of interest. PPS uses SIMAN to model process elements of an FMS, and IFPS to model the financial aspects of the system.