Architectural framework for the design of a simulation environment for decentralized production management

Although simulation is widely used for computer-supported production management, there is still a considerable gap in terms of integrating simulation into comprehensive production information systems. Currently, stand-alone simulations prevail. The architectural framework for an integrated simulation environment is a conceptual approach to link simulation more closely to production information systems. It is a novel concept to identify and structure the components of a comprehensive simulation environment. The architectural framework provides a means to validate the completeness and consistency of an integrated simulation environment. The paper is structured as follows. Section I briefly reviews the simulation modelling life cycle. Special emphasis is put on the decision-support function of simulation. Subsequently, major features of an integrated simulation environment are summarized. Section III deals with the application of simulation to decentralized production management. In section IV the architectural framework for an integrated simulation environment is developed. In particular, the decision making process in decentralized production control is explored. The resulting architecture is represented by an Entity-Relationship-Model (ERM), a modelling technique commonly used for the design of information systems.