Modeling a CIM system with Micro SAINT

Abstract

Four models of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing laboratory at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University were developed using a general purpose, menu-driven simulation language called Micro SAINT. The CIM laboratory consists basically of two sections: a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) and an automatic storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). Micro SAINT is a simulation software with animation capabilities that runs on a personal computer. It was originally developed for human factor analysis. The four models represented the different situations that are most likely to occur in a CIM environment and included different levels of analysis. Micro SAINT was then evaluated against its capability to model these situations effectively. It was found that Micro SAINT was quite effective in modeling the FMS section of the CIM Laboratory. The AS/RS section of the Laboratory was more complicated and difficult to model with Micro SAINT.