A data driven approach to automated simulation model building

This paper develops a simulation model building approach aimed at reducing model development efforts. The model building approach is intended for modeling of multi-stage manufacturing systems. A data model is used for representing the manufacturing system in the standardized manner. The data model is created from multiple raw data sources. A simulation model is automatically generated on the basis of the predefined template using information provided in the data model. Different manufacturing systems can be modeled by changing information in the data model. The automated generation allows avoiding model building errors caused by the large scale of the modeling problem. The model building approach is applied to study scheduling at initial stages of the manufacturing process of an automotive company. The automated approach is suitable for the problem because the system contains large number of similar objects and the company operates several similar systems.