Simulation of Production Processes in Combination with Traceability

The TTM (Total Traceability Management) is becoming a mandatory process requested by all OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturing) as a system to be deployed by the relevant suppliers. Process parameters from the machines are gathered by the TTM software and based on a defined algorithm the product is receiving new statuses, as physical and software characteristics. Given the high complexity of the current process flows, the highly automated lines and cells, the increased amount of process parameters, the necessity of synchronizing various production steps, it is needed that a simulation process to be done in advance of the full process deployment. The paper work reviews both the mathematical apparatus that underlies the simulation, and one of the various available simulation programs in academia. It is used one of the most usual software for simulation SIMQuick which is based on statistical methodologies. SIMQuick performs a virtual simulation of the process being used in various areas of activity including production in automotive, automation, supply chain processes and services, providing the valuable data for the behavior of the process and providing the premises for layout, flows, and resources improvements. The supply chain software ERP requirements with TTM technical inputs and outputs are the data pillars for the simulation which are presented as a result of the research.