A statistical method for generating order information for simulation modeling and analysis

摘要

The flexibility and sensitivity of manufacturing systems to changes in customer orders, both quantity and composition, is of vital importance. Evaluation of systems using simulation models is sometimes restricted because of a lack of actual customer order data. This paper describes a method for generating orders for use as input to manufacturing simulation models. These orders have characteristics based upon the statistical properties of a representative sample of actual orders processed by the facility. Two examples of the application of the method to actual simulation studies are presented.