Management of a simulation project in a manufacturing company
Authors:   Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Engineering, Department of Production Engineering, Poloczek Roksana , Oleksiak Beata ,   Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Engineering, Department of Production Engineering
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The main goal of managing a simulation project in a manufacturing company regarding the optimization of warehouse preparation and placement of galvanized steel profiles using FlexSim software is to improve logistics processes in the warehouse and increase production efficiency. The aim of the research is to develop an effective package addressing scheme and to introduce a special code that will enable precise management of profile storage and will improve the process of completing customer orders. Design/methodology/approach: The simulation project management methodology is based on several key steps: defining goals and requirements, collecting data and modeling, designing scenarios, performing simulations, and designing an individual addressing scheme for parcels in the warehouse. Findings: Simulations allow you to find the optimal warehouse layout that ensures effective use of the available space. This, in turn, allows you to increase the storage capacity and better organize the storage of profiles, which translates into minimizing losses and costs. Simulations allow you to test different strategies for placing profiles in a warehouse to minimize the time and effort needed to find them. Optimizing the placement process allows parcels to be located faster and more precisely, which speeds up order picking. Research limitations/implications: Simulation-based process optimization requires model accuracy and reliability. Imprecise or inaccurate data can affect simulation results and lead to inappropriate decisions. This requires careful data collection and model validation before implementation. Further research may focus on optimizing routes inside the warehouse and optimizing internal logistics. Investigating the best routes and methods of transport will minimize the time your products pass through your warehouse. Research can introduce an element of random events, such as machine breakdowns or fluctuating demand, into the simulation model to better reflect real conditions and increase the reliability of the results. Practical implications: Improvement of warehouse processes and the introduction of a special code addressing the shipment can significantly reduce the risk of errors and material losses, which contributes to greater accuracy and efficiency of operation and improvement of customer relations. Social implications: Effective optimization of warehouse and production processes contributes to increased work efficiency. Reduction of redundant activities, more precise management of resources, and more efficient order picking can affect employee satisfaction as well as positively affect working conditions and security. Originality/value: The key element of originality is using advanced FlexSim software for modeling and simulation of storage processes and producing galvanized steel profiles. Simulations of this type integrated with real data and the implementation of a special package addressing code constitute a comprehensive approach to optimizing the entire process. The results of such a study can have a significant impact on the practice in manufacturing companies, enabling more effective warehouse management, shortening the time of picking orders, reducing costs, optimal use of resources, and improving the quality of customer service. It is an interdisciplinary approach that combines aspects of production management, logistics, process optimization, and the use of advanced IT tools. Keywords: Simulation project management, process simulation, FlexSim software. Category of the paper: research paper.