Simulation of transport and storage processes with the logistic simulator USE!-TransLog - restructuring plant logistics in the chemical industry

Using an industrial project with the chemical industry as example this paper describes the requirements upon a simulation tool for analyzing plant logistic concepts, which finally led to the design of the logistic simulator USE!-TransLog. In this context plant logistic issues span from procurement, storage and distribution of raw material, packing and final products to restructuring of plant layout and evaluation of different transport organizations. Fundamental to any ananysis of a logistical system, independent of its application area, is the systematic description of the dynamic logistic key benchmarks "throughput", "flowtime", resource utilization", "work-in-process inventory"and "due date promise level". Incorporating a wide choice of modelling elements, the graphically-supported simulaton tool aids in identifying the values of these key benchmarks, which describe the varying system characteristics resulting from aternative plant logistic concepts. Hence, the integration of simula tion methodology in the planning process reveals existing development potentials and increases planning quality and safety. Special emphasis has been laid on an adequate representation of the transport processes, including various dispatching rules, vehicle interactions such as blocking or reloading, traffic congestions, vehicle capacities and a hierarchical routing control concept. The instrument itself is a member of the USE! product family, thus benefiting from is modular software concept and extensive module libraries, which repesent broad knowledge in software engineering, simulation methodology and logistic know-how.