Using workflow for reconfigurable simulation-based planning and scheduling system

• Published in: International journal of computer integrated manufacturing Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 171 - 187
• Main Authors: Lee, Ho Yeoul, Choi, Byoung Kyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Business; Computer simulation; Information systems; manufacturing information systems; Mathematical models; Production planning; Scheduling; simulation; simulation-based planning and scheduling; Workflow; workflow management system (WfMS); Workflow management systems
• ISSN: 0951-192X; 1362-3052
• DOI: 10.1080/0951192X.2010.542180

Recent information systems are evolving and starting to have reconfigurable structures that enable rapid implementation and maintenance. Simulation-based planning and scheduling approaches are considered to be suitable for this trend, because they utilise simulations as decision-support tools composed of simulator, simulation models and experimental frames, and these components can be modularised easily according to their functionalities. To implement a simulation-based planning and scheduling system, we have designed workflows for basic structures of the system and a workflow management system that can be used as a platform on which various Web services and Business rules can be integrated. We have described the technical requirements and presented how to resolve them. As a case study, a production planning system is developed in the workflow-based manner along with the classical method as a control group; we have done a comparative performance evaluation between the two methodologies. This case study demonstrates that the proposed workflow-based approach is able to minimise system development efforts and maintain high enough performance to apply the approach in real life.