A test implementation of the core manufacturing simulation data specification

Abstract

This paper describes an effort of testing the Core Manufacturing Simulation Data (CMSD) information model as a neutral data interface for a discrete event simulation model developed using Enterprise Dynamics. The implementation is based upon a model of a paint shop at a Volvo Car Corporation plant in Sweden. The model is built for a Swedish research project (FACTS), which focuses on the work procedure of developing new and modified production systems. FACTS has found standardized simulation data structures to be of high interest to achieve efficient data collection in conceptual stages of production development programs. For the CMSD-development team, implementations serve as an approach to validate the structures in CMSD and to gather requirements for future enhancements. CMSD was originally developed to support job shops, but the results of this implementation indicate a good possibility to extend CMSD to also support flow shops.

Distributed Modeling of Discrete Event Systems

“…The need of a shared data model ( [26], [7]) and of a common definition of the objects which are input and output of the simulation and a common simulation language, are all scientific and technical challenging topics that make research in distributed simulation always up to date.…”

Automated input data management: evaluation of a concept for reduced time consumption in discrete event simulation

“…Tests and actions to prove that CMSD is a feasible neutral format and, thus, compatible with numerous simulation software packages, have been performed. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32] Note that CMSD specifies the data formats in the interface between IT sources, but does not include descriptions on how to act on the data to transform them from data to information for a receiving source. In addition, CMSD is focused on the exchange of data and does not include descriptions of any logical relations describing model behavior or execution.…”

Core manufacturing simulation data (CMSD) :

“…To validate its ability to be used as the basis for integrating simulation applications with other manufacturing applications, CMSD has been used in several case studies. One such project was undertaken by Volvo Trucks, Chalmers University of Technology, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [14]. Figure 5 shows the engine line assembly process that includes two parallel lines and nine workstations for each line.…”

“…A diagram of the integrated system is shown in Figure 6. For a detailed description of the project see [15]. …”