Animated Simulation Model Research Articles

Applying Kaizen and automation to process reengineering

Kaizen and automation are two different approaches to improve the performance of manufacturers. Both approaches have been widely discussed and reported in related literature. This paper proposes a framework to integrate kaizen and automation to reengineer a manufacturing process. A case project shows the procedure of process reengineering. This study concludes that using an animated simulation model is an important step during process redesign. This research also shows that a nearly 50% improvement in labor productivity at the case company is possible with the streamlined manufacturing process.

Adapting the SPUR animal submodel for use on fescue pastures by including rumen and heat stress logic

Animal simulation models have been developed to aid in understanding how different factors are related to beef animal performance. The utility of these models becomes evident when one considers the many relationships and interrelationships that occur in grazing systems. The choice of an appropriate animal model must be made before grazing systems can be simulated. This paper evaluates the adequacy of a stocker steer model in predicting live weight gain, average daily gain and daily dry matter intake. A rumen kinetics model and a temperature stress component were incorporated to take differences in forage quality and environmental temperature into account. Digestion and other parameters were determined from literature values or by calibrating the model with actual intake data. The model was used to simulate three years of an actual grazing study. Addition of the rumen model resulted in significant improvement of the steer model. While steer live weight was sensitive to the added temperature stress logic, addition of the temperature stress component did not significantly improve the steer model. In two of the three years, the model slightly overestimated live weight. Predicted live weights at the end of the grazing seasons ranged from 6·4 kg less, to 14·1 kg more, than observed weights.

A pilot study of the impact of animation on decision-making

Recent years have seen the intro duction and growth of graphical animation in simulation. Animation is frequently extolled for its use as a debugging aid, as a communication aid, and as a decision aid. This paper reports on a pilot study that was undertaken to measure the impact of animation as a decision aid. Two versions of a simulation model of a flexible manufacturing system were developed; one with animation and one without. Subjects were given a problem scenario involving a design decision concerning the flexible manufactur ing system. Half were given the animated simulation model as a tool to assist in the design decision and half were given the nonanimated simulation model. The assignment of subjects to type of simulation model was made randomly. The results of the experiment are presented in terms of five variables: decision quality, decision speed, task performance, problem comprehen sion, and viewer preference. Based on this pilot study, suggestions are made for improving the experimen tal design of future studies.

A forage dynamics model for use in range or pasture environments

AbstractA deterministic model that simulates forage dynamics is described and validation results presented. The model simulates different species of grasses and forbs for a production year and provides the necessary input for a diet selection model. The model does not simulate growth, but does simulate the accumulation of live leaf and stem, the senescence of live biomass, and its transfer to dead mass using growth rates for leaf and stem of each species, which are specified for the model. Using such an approach specific types of years can be simulated. Plant components in the model include live leaf and stem, dead leaf and stem, and old dead leaf and stem which were produced during the previous growing season. These plant components were chosen because of their importance in the diet selection process and their differences in forage quality. Plant species which the model was validated against were Cynodon dactylon, Avena sativa. Schizachyrium scoparium and Paspalum plicatulum. Validation results indicated that with adjustment to input growth rates, live biomass could be adequately simulated. Deviations between measured and simulated dead components were observed for S. scopariumand P. plicatulum.High values observed for dead stem early in the trial resulted from lack of separation of dead and old dead stem material in the field sampling. Variations in dead forage throughout the season were caused by unexplained sources of variation. This indicated a need for field research to better quantify the dynamics of dead biomass. The model meets its goal of simulating biomass dynamics and forage quality of plant parts and it provides a suitable forage base to interface with diet selection and animal simulation models.