Variant simulation in design and risk estimation of manufacturing system

Purpose - To show necessity of risk evaluation during modelling and simulation of production systems. To show an approach to risk evaluation of manufacturing system which has serial reliability structure. Design/methodology/approach - Modelling and simulation of a manufacturing system allows one to conduct verification of different solutions in the area of production planning, before they are started. This is impossible with traditional methods. Findings - Reliable results of simulation research can be obtained only if they are based on an integrated model of the company, that covers all components of the manufacturing process including also its organization and risk in production processes. Practical implications - The paper describes the stages and results of a project carried out in 2002 in an international company. The proposed method of risk evaluation may be helpful to determine the risk level in the chosen production line and eventually for the whole enterprise manufacturing systems. Originality/value - The risk concept was treated as a synonym of unreliability. This kind of approach enabled decomposition of the production system into several areas and determination of the reliability structure.