Simulation based analysis of complex production systems with methods of non-linear dynamics

Abstract

Nowadays, production systems become more and more complex in their components and in their entire structure in response to market demands for a faster, cheaper and more flexible production. The complexity is caused by the growing number of elements and relations and by the dynamic behavior of elements and relations changing in course of time. New ideas have been proposed and new approaches are being developed to cope with these complex systems. Among these, non-linear dynamics and chaos theory are perhaps the most discussed proposals at present. To achieve further knowledge and a better understanding in analyzing data of production systems with methods of non-linear dynamics, simulation experiments are useful as a first step. Computer simulation offers the possibility to describe and analyze the behavior of existing systems under changing conditions and with different parameters. Also data can be generated in a sufficient quality and quantity. This paper shows a simulation experiment illustrating non-linear effects in production systems in order to demonstrate the advantages of production control with methods of non-linear dynamics.