A system dynamics-based simulation model of production line with cross-trained workers

摘要

In order to promote efficiency of the production line from one car engine parts plant, we built the simulation model based on System Dynamics. However, the standard System Dynamics method cannot precisely describe and simulate the situation when we introduced the management policy of cross-training, which was applied by the plant to promote efficiency, into production. Therefore, we revised and updated the simulation model to adapt to our requirement of simulating the policy of cross-training. Moreover, thinking that the workers will use more energy to get familiar with operation accompanied by the application of cross-training, it is necessary for us to consider the effect of worker learning and forgetting and the heterogeneity within worker pool into our model to make it more close to reality. At last, we conducted experiments to test how the production line would be optimized under different cross-training tactics, worker management policies and worker team structures.