Gauges Calibration Process and Productivity Improvement using Discrete Event Simulation

Abstract

In a tool calibration laboratory, the major challenges are to eliminate non-value-added activities and to schedule the machines with minimum tardiness. There is a predefined calibration schedule for the tools coming from multiple plant locations. Hence the number of tools to be calibrated within a given time varies considerably in each period.In this paper, discrete event simulation is used to identify and reduce the non-value-added activities in the process flow. To determine daily productivity and potential problem areas for the various request levels, a discrete simulation model using Arena was constructed, checked, and validated. The collected results demonstrate that throughput time in the existing system is poor due to the presence of bottlenecks and detected waiting time. While calibrating the tools, many of the jobs are scheduled to flow through a single machine. The obtained results from the discrete event simulation helps in improving the process and productivity, from the process bottlenecks and the response time.