A case study: Simulation of packaging line control logic

Kraft General Foods has been utilizing simulation techniques for the past several years. In their simulation of high-speed packaging lines, one area that has provided efficiency improvements is the evaluation of control logic. The author presents a case study in the form of a mystery. After a discussion of the packaging line´s designed strategy and control logic, simulation is used to illustrate why this logic concept did not actually work. The line operators had disabled portions of the dysfunctional logic and were controlling the line in an altered sequence from the original design. The author discusses the reasons for the operators´ actions as well as an equitable solution