Simulation: an application of factory design process methodology

To successfully compete in today's challenging, volatile markets, enterpris es must be highly flexible and open to change. Management must be confident that changes they make to their enterprise's design will improve marker po sition and have the potential to meet demanded performance levels. Mistakes are expensive and difficult to correct. The factory design process (FDP) r esearch offers an information-centred modelling environment, which links ob ject oriented databases with simulation to meet the challenges of enterpris e redesign. Desired enterprises are modelled and evaluated, using six FDP V iews. Dynamic evaluation, using simulation, is an essential part of the FDP Performance View, enabling the operation of proposed designs to be assesse d, before costly physical implementations are undertaken. Simulation plays a key role in testing ideas, comparing enterprise design solutions and eval uating design performance through a variety of 'what if ?' operational scen arios. Therefore, simulation makes a valuable contribution in several new a pplication areas within enterprise design.