Simulation of a Machining Sequence Using Delmia/Quest Software

Abstract

This paper describes a case study of analysis and optimization of the mechanical parts machining sequence in a manufacturing cell using a systematic search method and a Quest computer simulation model with graphical representation of the manufacturing processes. Data collected from a company in the aerospace industry was analyzed, organized, and input into a Quest simulation model. The simulation model objective was to determine bottleneck locations and what the optimal batch size should be. The Quest software proved to be a powerful tool in assessing what changes should be made to a manufacturing cell before incurring manufacturing improvements and/or performing actual capital investments. Quest’s analytic and visual capacity proved to be a good tool to integrate CAD and CAM, numerical output, graphical part description, simulation of machining sequence, and bottleneck identification.