Using 
to Enhance a Simulation Model
If you are involved with factory performance improvements, then there are two key items that you need to consider:
- The facilities and the resources that you have available
- How you plan, and control the use of the facilities and resources.
If you consider just one of those items then you are not considering the entire picture.
In situations where, for example, there are detailed interactions between items of equipment or where the layout of the equipment is important, then the only way to accurately model the facilities and resources is to use a simulation model. Orchestrate is able to take information directly from a ProModel simulation model and allows the user to understand how different plans and schedules would impact upon the performance of the facilities and resources.
By way of example, suppose the plan below came from a simulation model:
We can see very clearly that there is a clear gap on packing line 4. Investigation shows us that this is entirely due to the way in which the products are scheduled through the other lines in the factory.
The Orchestrate user is able to make a manual adjustment to the schedule and then test the change by replaying the new schedule through the simulation model.
In this way, Orchestrate is able to enhance the results that are normally available from the simulation program and offers new insights into the factory operations. Orchestrate also opens up the possibility of using the simulation model as part of a day to day scheduling routine.
In summary, Orchestrate and ProModel provide a complete and ultimately flexible solution to a wide range of projects that set out to improve business performance. |
