Comparative analysis of main process and material flow modelling/simulation softwares used in virtual environment.

Parpala Ciobanu, Lidia Florentina ; Popa, Cicerone Laurentiu

Abstract: We all have a problem choosing between the multitudes of software existing on the market in this moment. This problem becomes bigger if the software we have to choose has to be used in a virtual enterprise. In this paper we propose a different approach of this problem. The problem appears because in the virtual enterprise the decision to use certain software must be taken in such a manner so all the partners of the alliance agree with the decision. But the architecture of virtual enterprises does not allow partners to meet face to face for every decision that must be taken.

Key words: modelling, simulation, virtual enterprise, decision

1. INTRODUCTION

We all have a problem choosing between multitudes of software existing on the market at the moment. This problem becomes bigger if the software we have to choose has to be used in a virtual enterprise.

The virtual enterprise is known as a temporary alliance of enterprises that come together to share skills and resources in order to better respond to business opportunities and whose cooperation is supported by computer networks. (Camarinha-Mathos, 2002)

2. ABOUT VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

Enterprise architecture for the virtual environment must provide structure and efficiency benefits, while accommodating numerous elements from multiple designers and origins. It must create order from diversity.

Creating an architecture that preserves the loose coupling of modern architectural components differs from the unified view of monolithic architectures. Planning must occur in layers, with interfaces to adjacent pieces in view, but with the detailed implementation of partner pieces hidden in a "black box" and often beyond control. (Comport, 2002)

Enterprises increasingly will share responsibility for key technical and standards decisions with their trading partners; these decisions will affect their internal integration projects.

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3. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROCESS AND MATERIAL FLOW MODELLING AND SIMULATION SOFTWARE IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

In this paper we propose a different approach of this problem. The problem appears because in the virtual enterprise the decision to use certain software must be taken in such a manner so that all the partners of the alliance will agree with the decision. But the architecture of virtual enterprises does not allow partners to meet face to face for every decision that must be taken.

Some have tried to put the most important software characteristics in a table so that those who are interested in using one of the products may compare them. But this kind of comparative analysis is suited to a classical enterprise not to a virtual enterprise.

The starting point will be one of this tables that we talked about above. We have choose to compare only 5 software and tried to decide which is better suited to the virtual environment.

We further choose three softwares which suit our virtual organization purpose (DELMIA, Tecnomatix: Plant Simulation, WITNESS). In the virtual environment there are new requirements for software such as database connectivity and CAD model import or visualization of product data and 3D models with the non-engineering communities of an enterprise for collaborative reviews, technical publication, and other office communications.

Many organizations use databases to collect data and generate information. In many instances, those databases are constantly being populated, but the information does not necessarily end up in the bucket! For example, a company that paints a protective coating to large structures may find itself collecting data at three different places: pre-spraying operations go in one system, spraying operations data goes in another database, and inspection data goes into a third different place. To further complicate matters, these different storage medium may not be compatible. As another example, a large medical facility may have an extensive database describing the various activities within the Radiology Department. Records from this database can easily be extracted, but analyzing them to establish probabilistic models for the inputs of the simulation model may be a challenge. (Centeno & Carrillo, 2001)

These scenarios are not that rare in industry. They happened because the operations generating data require the use of heterogeneous and diverse equipment. In the first example, the robotic arm used to do the actual spraying may be utilization proprietary, manufacturer's software and database. In the second example, the database may be accepting inputs from several departments.

Today's enterprises must continually increase their productivity in order to compete effectively. This requires shorter delivery times, reduced operating costs, optimal utilization of capacities and optimized material and information flow. At the same time, total automation is being superseded by hybrid, partially automated and therefore flexible production systems.

4. CONCLUSION

Over the years, simulation models have been successfully built to observe the behavior of systems. Despite advances in the field and its growth in popularity, when simulation is to be introduced to an organization, there are challenges to be met including acceptance by staff, availability of staff to describe the various operations, existence of useful data, and management expectations. Organizations are continuously collecting data, which may lead one to believe that developing stochastic models of an organization's activities should be easy.

We consider that this is a new point of view in the case of comparative analysis of main process and material flow modelling/simulation software used in virtual environment.

We will continue with finding all the characteristics of material flow modelling/simulation software necessary for the collaborative work.

It is hard to tell which software is better suited because each enterprise (classical or virtual) has its own interests and needs. That is why we did not propose certain software but we tried to point out the need to differentiate the ways to take decision in classical and virtual enterprises concerning material flow modelling/simulation software.

5. REFERENCES

Camarinha-Mathos L.M. (2002)--Virtual Organization in Manufacturing: Trends and Challenges, Proceedings of International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing (FAIM), Germany, 2002

Comport J. (2002)--Architecture for the Virtual Enterprise: Order from Diversity, Available from: http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=10909 8 Accessed: 2003-11-27

Swain J.J. (2005) 'Gaming' Reality Biennial survey of discrete-event simulation software tools, OR/MS Today, Available from: http://www.lionhrtpub.com/orms/orms-12-05/frsurvey.html Accessed: 2007-05-25

Centeno M.A. & Carrillo M. (2001)--Challenges of Introducing Simulation as a Decision Making Tool, Proceedings of the 2001 Winter Simulation Conference, USA 2001, pg. 17-21.

Parpala L.F. & Popa C.L. (2007)--Remodeling and Validation by Simulation of Manufacturing Systems Architecture for the Integration in Virtual Enterprise Platforms, Proceedings of IMT Oradea 2007, Romania, 2007

Table 1. Comparative analysis table for choosing material flow
modelling/simulation software in virtual enterprise

Software Vendor Typical Applications of the software

DELMIA Dassault Integration of Product Design with
 Systems Manufacturing Processes, Generative
 Process Planning, Material and Work
 Flow Planning; Assembly Definition,
 Ergonomics and Sequencing, Process
 Design for Production Line, Workcells
 and Machines through Simulation,
 Process Improvement Metrics and
 Reporting, Work Instructions and Shop
 Floor, Documentation, Process
 Optimization Modeling, Automatic
 Generation of Controls Logic.

Plant UGS Object-oriented, hierarchical discrete
Simulation event simulation tool for modeling
 visualization, planning and optimization

WITNESS Lanner Modeling of factories, hospitals,
2006 Group logistics, business processes

 Virtual Enterprise Requirements

Software Database connectivity 3D Model Import

DELMIA DELMIA expands DELMIA users have
 connectivity of the the possibility to
 collaborative workspace share 3D visualization
 with a new rapid of product data and 3D
 deployment manufacturing models with the
 process planning package. nonengineering communities
 DELMIA V5R16 enables users of an enterprise for
 to access and manipulate collaborative reviews,
 very large datasets as technical publication,
 they develop, plan and and other office
 validate manufacturing communications.
 processes.

Plant Open system architecture supporting multiple interfaces
Simulation and integration capacities (ActiveX, CAD, Oracle, SQL,
 ODBC, XML, etc.)

WITNESS Great linkage-databases (ORACLE, SQL Server, Access,
2006 etc), direct spreadsheet links in/out, XML save
 formats, HTML reports, links from partner BPM and
 CAD applications

Fig. 2. Example of comparative analysis table for choosing
material flow modelling/simulation software in
classical enterprise (Swain, 2005)

 Typical
 Applications of Operating
Software Vendor the software RAM Systems

Delmia Dassault Integration of 512 Microsoft
 Systems Product Design MB Windows
 with Manufacturing 2000, XP
 Processes, Generative
 Process Planning,
 Material and Work
 Flow Planning,
 Assembly Definition,
 Ergonomics and
 Sequencing, Process
 Design for Production
 Line, Workcells and
 Machines through
 Simulation,
 Documentation,
 Process Optimization,
 Modeling.

Arena Rockwell Facility design/ 64 Windows
 Automation configuration, MB 98, 98 SE,
 scheduling, effective Me, 2000
 passenger and (SP 3-later)
 baggage-handling Server
 processes, patient 2003, XP
 management, (SP 1-later)
 routing/dispatching
 strategy

Plant UGS Object-oriented, 128 Microsoft
Simulation hierarchical discrete MB Windows
 event simulation 2000, XP
 tool for modeling
 visualization,
 planning and
 optimization

SIMUL8 SIMUL8 Work flow 64 Windows
 Corporation management, MB 95, 98, ME
 throughput analysis, NT 4, 2000,
 de-bottlenecking XP or later
 new product/process
 development,
 capacity analysis,
 continuous
 improvement

WITNESS Lanner Modeling of 256 Windows
2006 Group factories, hospitals, MB 98, 2000,
 logistics, business NT, ME
 processes and XP

 Graphical
 model Run time Optimization
Software construction debug (Specify)

Delmia y y DELMIA
 Quest

Arena y y OptQuest for
 Arena included
 in most
 products, no charge

Plant y y Sequencing
Simulation range
 allocation
 optimization
 wizard

SIMUL8 y y Includes
 OptQuest for
 SIML8

WITNESS y y WITNESS
2006 Optimizer
 module