Total capacity management using simulation

Presents a discussion of how modeling and simulation can be used to support total capacity management (TCM). TCM promotes the integration of functions relating to capacity management and the sharing of information and decisions with those systems that are also involved in manufacturing system improvement. TCM is focused on the productive capability of the manufacturing system. It performs functions related to capacity setting and resource and job scheduling originally promised in an accurate or usable form at the shop floor level. It provides a path to break down the barriers between the functional units of design, planning, operations, and control. First, TCM is defined, then an example architecture for simulation-based TCM is described, and, finally two applications which relate to TCM concepts are given