Comparative Analysis of Factory Simulation Description Models for Comprehensive Description of Model Design

Simulation models are used during the entire life cycle of a factory. Because of a factory’s complexity, different simulation tools with different scope emerged over time. The holistic mapping requires coupled simulations that consider the factory from different perspectives. Each simulation requires a new tool and simulation model, which, up to now, has usually been created manually. This paper presents an analysis of existing approaches and data models for factory simulation description. These approaches allow data exchange between single simulation models, but do not provide dynamic coupling and model generation, and often cannot include all relevant information for the factory simulation. To achieve a continuous and comprehensive factory simulation, a concept for a metamodel for factory simulation description is outlined. Its goal is not only to describe a skeleton of the factory and provide simulation coupling and data exchange but also to provide a dynamic model generation.