On System Dynamics as an Approach for Manufacturing Systems Development
Licentiate thesis, 2009
Improvement work in manufacturing industry usually focuses on the
utilisation of equipment. System dynamics simulation is a potential tool for
increasing the utilisation of systems. By using group model building and
simulation it facilitates a common view and better informed decisions for
change. However, a gap between theory and practice of how to implement
these projects is identified, consequently the major question for this thesis.
The approach for solving this problem used industrial case studies with
action research character; including modelling and interviews affecting the
actors in the studied systems. Together with literature studies these efforts
contribute with identifying how system dynamics projects can be performed
for manufacturing systems development.
It is shown that the support for how to implement system dynamics projects
is unsatisfying and general. During the research progress a framework of
guidelines has crystallised in order to bridge the presented gap of this thesis.
Finally, the results are considered to make it easier to support
manufacturing systems development using system dynamics.
operational
Keywords: system dynamics
manufacturing systems development