Discrete event simulation combined with multi-criteria decision analysis applied to steel plant logistics system planning

This paper aims the development and employment of a computational tool to support strategic decisions about the planning and sizing of the logistics and production elements of a steel plant (stockyards, transportation fleet, etc.). This tool corresponds to a hybrid software application able to analyze and evaluate the complex logistic problem proposed by combining the techniques of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) Modeling and Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). Also, are presented the proposed steel plant logistic system characteristics, as well as the methodologies applied to build the computational tool and to analyze the simulation results. The study concludes that the DES model combined with MCDA methodology is highly efficient regarding complex logistic systems major characteristics assessment.