Lean+ manufacturing process analysis simulation (LPAS+)

This paper presents an approach for modeling manufacturing process flows using a database-driven simulation design based on commercially available general purpose simulation software. The Lean+ Process Analysis Simulation (LPAS+) incorporates a work flow schedule to model cycle time and resource usage, accounting for task sequencing, task duration variability, resource (labor, tooling, position, etc.) requirements, maximum capacity, and contention. Advantages of the approach include rapid model development, 100 percent reusability, a database driven architecture, the incorporation of macros for automating the population of detailed input tables, and ease of end model use by non-simulation experts. The approach has been used successfully within Boeing to support analysis and cycle time reduction of aircraft and spacecraft production flows and resource requirements analysis including labor and equipment.