Methodology for the analysis of simulation-based decision-making in the manufacturing area

Growing market demands on enterprises and the resulting challenges for their organization have been discussed for many years now. The flexibility and mutability of an enterprise are thereby considered as a significant factor for success. As a reaction to this, many enterprises have realigned their enterprise along the value-added chain. The implementation of flat hierarchies and process-oriented work organization make up focus of current discussions about organizational structures in the manufacturing area. New departmental structures, however, often require that decisions are delegated to operative positions, thus increasing the decision-making and action leeway of the operative employees. However, there are currently no methods capable of prospectively examining the suitability of such decentralized decision-making systems. In this context, this paper presents a method with which the suitability of decision-making systems can be examined in a prospective and quantitative manner. In order to attain this goal, the simulation procedure OSim-Ent developed at the ifab-Institute of Human and Industrial Engineering of the University of Karlsruhe (Germany), was expanded through generic elements, with which relevant decision-making system elements can be modeled and examined through simulation.