Factory planning using integrated information and material flow simulation

Planning and optimization of factories is a complex task. Information flow and material flow have to be studied in an integrative way in order to achieve highest quality standards of planning results. With the help of computer aided methods the authors suggest planning support by an enterprise specific reference model for the development of an information flow concept and by a material flow model for the development of a logistics concept. As information and material flow will influence each other very intensively, these models should base on a common kernel, which is described with the same modelling approach. The authors propose an Integrated Enterprise Modelling (IEM) method, which uses the object oriented modelling approach. Main features are the close relation between functions and data of an object (encapsulation), inheritance, and the class concept. With MO2GO (based on IEM) and MOSYS, IPK Berlin has developed two planning systems which justly fit the need of todays industrial p lanning requirements.