The Plant Simulation Assembly Library enables you to create
well-structured, hierarchical models of a plant’s assembly lines and assembly systems.
You can use these models to simulate, animate and evaluate both basic and complex
assembly processes. The library provides tested and optimized high-level objects that
you can leverage to model the basic components of an assembly line, as well as the
knowledge and toolsets that represent a complete assembly system. The library lets you
quickly simulate the assembly line’s processes through the use of assembly-specific
components that are capable of representing predefined resources, order lists, operation
plans and control rules. Subsequently, users can leverage analytical tools
to optimize the throughput of these simulated processes, relieve process bottlenecks and
evaluate the impact of different production variations (including different line production
control strategies).
Challenges
of modeling your assembly processesAssembly lines are often evaluated on the basis of their ability to:
• Handle different products at the same time
• Handle high numbers of product variants
• Meet required just-in-time and just-in-sequence reaction times.
The models that you use to simulate, animate and evaluate these characteristics need to be flexible enough to account for these key characteristics – as well as to account for unexpected considerations and complex production requirements. For example, you might be required to quickly remodel your assembly line processes to accommodate unexpected factors such as the need for rework or revised quality inspections. Similarly, you may need to establish a hybrid assembly system that combines manual workplaces with automated stations – or final assembly lines comprised of moving workplaces.
Tecnomatix Plant Simulation Assembly Library is highly flexible; it enables you to rapidly model – and remodel – your desired assembly layout using already tested and optimized objects that can be quickly adapted from one task to another. In addition, you can use other objects, such as assembly workplaces, buffers, distributors and sorters, to represent the material flow. The library also provides objects for organizing and managing your assembly processes, including assembly controllers, bill of material administration, material allocation and personnel administration.
Tecnomatix approach to plant simulation assembly enables you to record the availability of the assembly system’s personnel and machines in a calendar that allows you to systematically plan your resource usage. In addition, the library’s Explorer object provides an easy and transparent means of setting the assembly system’s capacity, cycle time and assembly object availability. Once your process simulations have been executed, you can record their results, such as resource and buffer utilization, in status diagrams and histograms or export them in tables. The Tecnomatix approach to plant simulation assembly is especially valuable because it enables you to be much more precise – and therefore productive – when you model entire assembly systems and their processes. In addition, its flexibility provides you with a quick and effective tool for planning and facilitating the optimization of your assembly systems.