Y. Tina Lee

A test implementation of the core manufacturing simulation data specification

This paper describes an effort of testing the Core Manufacturing Simulation Data (CMSD) information model as a neutral data interface for a discrete event simulation model developed using Enterprise Dynamics. The implementation is based upon a model of a paint shop at a Volvo Car Corporation plant in Sweden. The model is built for a Swedish research project (FACTS), which focuses on the work procedure of developing new and modified production systems. FACTS has found standardized simulation data structures to be of high interest to achieve efficient data collection in conceptual stages of production development programs. For the CMSD-development team, implementations serve as an approach to validate the structures in CMSD and to gather requirements for future enhancements. CMSD was originally developed to support job shops, but the results of this implementation indicate a good possibility to extend CMSD to also support flow shops.

Input data management methodology for discrete event simulation

Input Data Management (IDM) is a time consuming and costly process for Discrete Event Simulation (DES) projects. In this paper, a methodology for IDM in DES projects is described. The approach is to use a methodology to identify and collect data, then use an IDM software to extract and process the data. The IDM software will structure and present the data in Core Manufacturing Simulation Data (CMSD) format, which is aimed to be a standard data format for any DES software. The IDM methodology was previously developed and tested by Chalmers University of Technology in a case study in the automotive industry. This paper presents a second test implementation in a project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with an aerospace industry partner.

An Architecture and Interfaces for Distributed Manufacturing Simulation

This article presents an overview of a neutral reference architecture and data model for integrating distributed manufacturing simulation systems with each other, with other manufacturing software applications, and with manufacturing data repositories. Other manufacturing software applications include but are not limited to systems used to design products, specify processes, engineer manufacturing systems, and manage production. The architecture identifies the software building blocks and interfaces that will facilitate the integration of distributed simulation systems and enable the integration of those systems with other manufacturing software applications. The architecture builds on the High Level Architecture standard for simulation. The National Institute of Standards and Technology and its collaborators have created several implementations of portions of the architecture using commercial off-the-shelf simulators. These implementations demonstrated the feasibility of the architecture and highlighted the need for a neutral data model for exchanging manufacturing data between simulations.

Representing layout information in the CMSD specification

Developing mechanisms for the efficient exchange of information between simulations and other manufacturing tools is a critical problem. For many areas of manufacturing, neither representations for the information nor mechanisms for exchanging the information have been agreed upon. Manufacturing plant layout is one such area. The core manufacturing simulation data (CMSD) specification is being developed to address some of these issues, through the definition of neutral representations for the ¿core¿ manufacturing entities that need to be exchanged between simulations and other applications, through the creation of a Unified Modeling Language information model that defines the relationships between the core manufacturing entities, and through the definition of eXtensible Modeling Language Schemas based on the information model to facilitate the exchange of information that adheres to the model. This paper describes an effort to extend the CMSD specification to cover the definition and exchange of layout information.

Enabling flexible manufacturing systems by using level of automation as design parameter

Handling flexibility in an ever changing manufacturing environment is one of the key challenges for a successful industry. By using tools for virtual manufacturing, industries can analyze and predict outcomes of changes before taking action to change the real manufacturing systems. This paper describes a simulation tool that can be used to study the effect of level of automation issues on the design of manufacturing systems, including their effect on the overall system performance, ergonomics, environment, and economic measures. Determining a suitable level of automation can provide a manufacturing system with the flexibility needed to respond to the unpredictable events that occur in factory systems such as machine failures, lack of quality, lack of materials, lack of resources, etc. In addition, this tool is designed to use emerging simulation standards, allowing it to provide a neutral interface for both upstream and downstream data sources.

Design specifications of a generic supply chain simulator

This paper describes a design specification for a generic, supply-chain-simulation system. The proposed simulation system is based on schedule-driven and stock-driven control methods to support the supply chain management. The simulation system includes three processing modes: business process flows, material process flows, and information process flows. The paper also discusses interface data requirements for the proposed supply-chain-simulation system.

Data exchange for machine shop simulation

Manufacturing simulation systems normally provide interfaces for data import and export using proprietary formats. Dependent data interfaces limit simulation applications in the manufacturing industry. This paper describes a mechanism for transferring data between a traditional database and XML files, which represent a machine shop data model developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The data model is described by XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and UML (Unified Modeling Language). The data transfer mechanism is based on document object model (DOM), XML path language (XPath), and open database connectivity (ODBC) database engines. A prototype implementation is also described in this paper

Implementation of core manufacturing simulation data in aerospace industry

This presentation will describe how Boeing implements the Core Manufacturing Simulation Data (CMSD) information model. The presentation will include visualization of manufacturing data for parts and tooling visibility in manufacturing industry. Simulation analyses are prepared by extracting and formatting data from real world production databases. This includes automatic data processing, automatic curve fitting for distribution functions, automatic CMSD file generation, and finally data is automatically fed to simulations.

Ambulance Design Survey 2011: A Summary Report.

Current ambulance designs are ergonomically inefficient and often times unsafe for practical treatment response to medical emergencies. Thus, the patient compartment of a moving ambulance is a hazardous working environment. As a consequence, emergency medical services (EMS) workers suffer fatalities and injuries that far exceed those of the average work place in the United States. To reduce injury and mortality rates in ambulances, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has teamed with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and BMT Designers & Planners in a joint project to produce science-based ambulance patient compartment design standards. This project will develop new crash-safety design standards and improved user-design interface guidance for patient compartments that are safer for EMS personnel and patients, and facilitate improved patient care. The project team has been working with practitioners, EMS workers’ organizations, and manufacturers to solicit needs and requirements to address related issues. This paper presents an analysis of practitioners’ concerns, needs, and requirements for improved designs elicited through the web-based survey of ambulance design, held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This paper also introduces the survey, analyzes the survey results, and discusses recommendations for future ambulance patient compartments design.

Simulation-based design concept evaluation for ambulance patient compartments

To address the inadequacy of ambulance design standards, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and BMT Designers and Planners have collaborated to develop new design standards for ambulance patient compartments. This paper presents a simulation-based approach to evaluate and guide improving patient compartment designs that conform to developed requirements for better performance and safety of ambulance users. Those requirements address hazards stemming from (1) the inability of providers to remain safely restrained while treating patients, and (2) the musculoskeletal damage from awkward body postures. An initial design was developed through the axiomatic design approach with inputs from stakeholders such as emergency medical service providers and ambulance manufacturers. The design was imported into a human task simulation tool. It was tested for performance to identify areas for further improvements, which resulted in a second design concept. This paper shows how computer simulation was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the two successive design concepts in enabling providers to perform a range of medical care tasks while remaining seated and restrained. We also evaluated the musculoskeletal effect of these designs on the providers. The results showed that using a simulation-based evaluation produced patient compartments that better meet user requirements when compared with traditional designs. This research produced a set of requirements and recommendations that we believe will lead to better design standards and guidelines for the next generation of ambulances.