An automated relational database structure building system for the life cycle of manufacturing simulation models

Abstract

Recent simulation literature shows a growing interest in the integration of artificial intelligent concepts with computer simulation to automate the simulation phases of model construction and translation. Little attention has been paid to aiding modellers in the use of output data over the life cycle of a simulation model associated with a manufacturing system study. In modern computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) environments, information from related areas ideally should cohabit a common database system. In this paper, relational database structures for computer simulation results over the life cycle of simulation models are developed by classifying different types of model structures, user goals, and associated experimental design conditions common to all manufacturing systems. The structures provide an intermediate step between a pure simulation environment and a complete CIM relational database system and serve as a formal basis to create an automated database structure building system. Several simulation environments have been constructed with this approach and have proven successful.