Optimizing real-world factory flows using aggregated discrete event simulation modelling : Creating decision-support through simulation-based optimization and knowledge-extraction

• Reacting quickly to changing market demands and new variants by improving and adapting industrial systems is an important business advantage. Changes to systems are costly; especially when those systems are already in place. Resources invested should be targeted so that the results of the improvements are maximized. One method allowing this is the combination of discrete event simulation, aggregated models, multi-objective optimization, and data-mining shown in this article. A real-world optimization case study of an industrial problem is conducted resulting in lowering the storage levels, reducing lead time, and lowering batch sizes, showing the potential of optimizing on the factory level. Furthermore, a base for decision-support is presented, generating clusters from the optimization results. These clusters are then used as targets for a decision tree algorithm, creating rules for reaching different solutions for a decision-maker to choose from. Thereby allowing decisions to be driven by data, and not by intuition. 

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Aggregation

Data mining

Decision support

Discrete event simulation

Industrial case study

Multi-objective optimization

Agglomeration

Decision making

Decision support systems

Decision trees

Digital storage

Multiobjective optimization

Trees (mathematics)

Decision supports

Decision-tree algorithm

Industrial problem

Industrial systems

Knowledge extraction

Real-world optimization

Simulation-based optimizations

Production and Automation Engineering

Produktion och automatiseringsteknik

VF-KDO

VF-KDO

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)