The purpose of FMSS is to determine the machine cell requirements based on the customer’s production demand and operating parameters.  The following is a sample of the operating parameters the user can vary in order to optimize a system:

 

• The number of machining centers to be used in the analysis, up to a maximum of 16

• The number of load stations to be used in the analysis, up to a maximum of 6

• The number of fixtures/pallets to be used in the analysis, up to a maximum of 500

• The number of days to simulate, up to a maximum of 90

• The number of operators to be used in the analysis, up to a maximum of 6

• The part numbers to be used in the analysis, up to a maximum of 400

• The ability to group part numbers into part families in order to load fixtures with different part numbers that are part of the same part family

• The ability to prioritize the production sequence of the part numbers included in the analysis

• The daily production requirement for each part number, up to a maximum of 90 days of production for each part number

• The cycle time by part number and operation, up to a maximum of 6 operations for each part number

• The load/unload time by part number and operation, up to a maximum of 6 operations for each part number

• The ability to specify a unique pallet(s) for each part number, for each operation and the quantity of parts per pallet for each operation

• The ability to specify the location of each load/unload station, machining center, pallet stand and pallet stand level (up to a maximum of 3 levels) for each system configuration included in the analysis - the machining centers, load/unload stations and pallet stands can be located on both sides of the rail that the vehicle travels

• The vehicle travel speed, load station transfer time from the vehicle to the load station and the transfer time from the vehicle to the machining centers

• The ability to specify the operator(s) assigned to each load/unload station and the daily operator break schedule

• The ability to specify the load/unload station(s) assigned to each part number by operation

• The ability to specify the machining center(s) assigned to each part number by operation

• The ability to specify the hours per shift, shifts per day and days per week any machine and operator is available.  The machine and operator availability schedules can be specified for a 7 day period.  This weekly schedule will be used in the event the scenario being simulated goes beyond a 7 day period.  For example, if the user runs a scenario for a 2 week period, then the machine and operator availability schedules specified for the first week will be used for the second week

• The upgrade will also include adding additional blank columns on the schedule printing report . These columns will allow the user to include shop order numbers and shop order operation numbers. The user can manually input the information prior to printing the schedule

• The start date for all production orders can be specified for a 7 day period.  This weekly production schedule will be used in the event the scenario being simulated goes beyond a 7 day period.  For example, if the user runs a scenario for a 2 week period, then the production schedules specified for the first week will be used for the second week

• The ability to specify the start and stop time period to run any production order.  This gives the user the ability to finite schedule production orders at precise times periods during the day and determine the impact this schedule will have on the overall performance of the machining cells and the impact on other production orders scheduled to run during the same time period. 

• The ability to save a scenario

• The ability to open a previously saved scenario

• The ability to import all the data generated from the simulation software and allow the user to create custom reports

 

The following is a sample of the output reports generated by FMSS:

• The machining center utilization

• The load/unload station utilization

• The fixture/pallet utilization

• The fixture/pallet stand utilization – this includes the percentage of time the fixture/pallet stand had a fixture/pallet with a finished product, an in-process part and with no part

• The operator utilization

• The Rail Guided Vehicle (RGV) or Robot utilization

• The quantity of parts completed (by part number), within the specified time period simulated

• A daily production schedule for the operators