Enabling Industry 4.0 impact assessment with manufacturing system simulation: an OEE based methodology

Increasing digitalization in manufacturing, often associated with terms like Industry 4.0 (I4.0) or Smart Manufacturing, is a topic of crucial concern for manufacturing companies. Different digital technologies (DTs) can be integrated into manufacturing processes and systems aiming at increasing flexibility, product quality or productivity. The type and scope of potential DTs must be carefully selected when planning and improving a manufacturing system. The definition and configuration could be supported by simulation techniques that assess the DTs' impact on the manufacturing system and its final performance. However, parametrizing the DTs into a simulation tool is not straightforward since appropriate models might be challenging to obtain and actual impacts of DTs are uncertain. Against this background, the paper presents methods to enable a simulation-based assessment while considering the impact of not just individual but also a combination of DTs. The paper introduces a framework to define the base characteristics of selected DTs within a manufacturing system and their parameterization into a commercial simulation tool. Furthermore, the usability and expectable results are demonstrated in a case study.