Plant simulation

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Tecnomatix Plant Simulation
Basic data

developer Siemens AG , Siemens Industry Sector
Current  version 15
(2019)
operating system Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7,

Windows 8

programming language SimTalk
category Simulation software
License Commercially
German speaking Yes
www.siemens.com/PLM

Plant Simulation is software for the simulation , analysis , visualization and optimization of production processes, material flow and logistical processes. The software portfolio to which Plant Simulation belongs belongs within the Plant Design and Optimization Solution together with the products of the digital factory and digital manufacturing to the area of ​​the Product Lifecycle Management software (PLM), which it uses of computer simulations allowed to make complex production alternatives including the contained flow logic comparable.

Product description

Plant Simulation is material flow simulation software ( Discrete Event Simulation; DES software ). With the help of the simulation, complex, especially dynamic company processes are calculated in order to arrive at mathematically secured business decisions. The computer model enables the user to conduct experiments and run through what-if scenarios without influencing actual production - or if it is used in the planning phase long before the real system exists. In general, material flow analysis is used when production processes run discreetly (not continuous, part is there or not, shift takes place or does not take place, machine is OK or reports errors) and violently oppose mathematical descriptions and derivations due to numerous dependencies . Most of the questions of material flow simulation were described before the availability of powerful computers with the help of queuing theories and methods of operations research .

languages

Plant Simulation is used in English , German , Japanese , Chinese and Hungarian . Individual parameterizations of the dialog boxes are possible.

Special features

  • Real object orientation or object-oriented programming with polymorphism and encapsulation
  • Inheritance mechanisms : Users create libraries of their own objects that can be reused. In contrast to a copy, a change in the library (object class) also leads to a change in the objects derived from it (children).
  • Hierarchy : Complex structures can be set up more clearly on several (logical) levels. This facilitates a top-down and bottom-up approach.
  • Openness to transfer data from other systems (e.g. Access or Oracle databases, Excel worksheets or SAP ).
  • Integration: Plant Simulation is part of the digital factory and can e.g. B.
    • Take over data from PLM systems or with the
    • Plant commissioning (virtual commissioning) can be used. Or
    • Layout data e.g. B. from AutoCAD or FactoryCAD directly into the simulation.
  • Analysis tools, e.g. B. to uncover bottlenecks (bottleneck analyzer), to track material flows ( Sankey diagram ) or to find out oversized resources (chart wizard).
  • Optimization tools: Tools for optimization are integrated in Plant Simulation. Of the
    • Experiment Manager creates scenarios automatically or calculates dependencies between two input variables. With the help of
    • Genetic algorithms are used to search through large solution spaces
    • Neural networks can be used to show relationships between input and output parameters and use them for forecasts.
  • Data analysis: Examination of statistical data for dependencies, regression analysis , best fitting function, etc.

Areas of application

Calculation of company key figures

Target:

  • Discover and point out problems that would otherwise have resulted in costs and time-consuming corrective measures during the start-up phase.
  • To reduce the investment costs for the production lines without endangering the required output quantities.
  • To optimize the performance of existing productions.
  • Inclusion of machine malfunctions , availabilities ( MTTR , MTBF ) when calculating throughput quantities and utilization rates.

Visualization

Plant Simulation allows the 2D and 3D representation of production processes. In addition, it allows the presentation of complete system concepts at an early stage in a virtual, interactive, immersive environment. For example, 3D design data can be imported from Solid Edge in .jt format using drag and drop .

distribution

Plant Simulation is used in many industries, especially:

  • Automotive industry ( Association of the automotive industry , working group process simulation)
  • Automotive supplier
  • Plant builder
  • mechanical engineering
  • Process industry
  • Electronics industry
  • Airports
  • Logistics company (transport logistics, warehouse logistics, production logistics)
  • High-bay warehouse suppliers, providers of driverless transport systems and electric monorail systems
  • Consulting offices and service providers
  • Shipyards ( Simulation Cooperation in the Maritime Industries ; Association of shipbuilders and service providers who deal with simulation in the shipyard environment)
  • Ports, especially container terminals
  • Hospital and healthcare industry ( OR simulation )

Plant Simulation is also used for training, teaching and research purposes at numerous technical colleges and universities. Free student licenses are available for this.

history

year company Product name
1986 The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation is developing object-oriented, hierarchical simulation software for the Apple Macintosh SIMPLE Mac for Apple Macintosh
1990 Foundation of the company AIS (Applied Information Systems) SIMPLE ++ (simulation in production, logistics and engineering)
1991 Renaming of the former AIS to AESOP (applied IT systems for optimized planning) SIMPLE ++ (simulation in production, logistics and engineering)
1997 Acquisition of AESOP by Tecnomatics Technologies Ltd. 2000 Renaming from SIMPLE ++ to eM-Plant
2004 Acquisition of Tecnomatics Technologies Ltd. by UGS Corporation 2005 Renaming to Tecnomatix Plant Simulation
2007 Takeover of UGS Corporation by Siemens AG Tecnomatix Plant Simulation

literature

  • Steffen Bangsow: Production simulations with Plant Simulation and SimTalk. Application and programming with examples and solutions . Hanser Verlag, Munich et al. 2008, ISBN 978-3-446-41490-7 , ( Workbook - Edition CAD.de ), (with 1 CD-ROM).
  • Michael Eley: Simulation in Logistics: Introduction to the creation of event-discrete models using the "Plant Simulation" tool . Springer Gabler, 2012, ISBN 978-3-642-27372-8 , 978-3-642-27373-5.

Web links