The Role and Trends of Modeling and Simulation in Managing Manufacturing Complexity

Abstract

Complexity is the underlying common character of modem manufacturing systems and business processes. Modeling and simulation are the two main ways through which concept, analysis. dimensioning and evaluation of performances of complex systems arc perfonned. While modcling and simulation techniques arc steadily developing, together with more available and cheaper computer power, a tremendous increase of the power of such computing tec hniques is expected from the merge between modcling and simulation. In fact after decades of separate development the trad itional gap between rnodeling and simulation is becoming to be considered a problem to deal with and that can be solved. On one hand, the continuous development of simulation tools still continue to find strong barriers for large diffusion and use in the difficulty of building and testing the simulation model. On the other hand (logical) modeling of complex systems is trying to cover a comprehensive, integrated and global view of the whole enterprise (enterprise modeling). Unfortunately, as it is well known, after building a complex logical model, the model itself could not predict system behavior unless translated in a corresponding simulation model. This process might be exceptionally speeded-up if integration between logical and simulation modeling might be achieved by automatic model translation, thus realizing a process we might call “virtual design and evaluation of complex systems”. Of course, to achieve such a result full integration between mode ling and simulation should be achieved.