Developing and analyzing flexible cell systems using simulation

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate flexible cell alternatives to support an agile production environment at a mid-sized manufacturer of industrial equipment. Three work cell alternatives were developed based on traditional flow analysis studies, past experience, and common sense. To support the analysis of each option, a simulation model was developed and validated for the current manufacturing environment. The simulation model allowed the analyst to evaluate each cell alternative under current conditions as well as anticipated future conditions that included changes to product demand, product mix, and process technology. This paper will emphasize the modeling aspects of this study and briefly discuss the results and future directives.