Simulation looks into the future

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 12/1/2004

At Dell's east coast fulfillment center, rapid and continuing growth resulted in the need for more yard capacity for inbound and outbound trailers.

But just how much more capacity?

To answer that and other questions, Dell uses simulation software. The system identifies the computer maker's current yard limitations, future breaking points, and predicts an implementation strategy to keep up with projected growth, according to Ameet Ravetkar, fulfillment engineering, at Dell.

Ravetkar was one of several presenters on software tools for simulation and emulation at Brooks Software's (978-262-2400) annual symposium.

Simulation software is used by original equipment manufacturers, systems integrators and end users to model the performance of manufacturing and materials handling and identify bottlenecks before they are implemented.

Emulation software, on the other hand, is used to test out a control system against the simulated model rather than wait to get the system on site.

Emulation in particular is a rising trend, according to Ian McGregor, manager of simulation products for Brooks Software.

"The control system is mission critical," McGregor says. "It's also one of the last things to get done during the implementation of a materials handling system. Any delay in getting the system up and running with the bugs worked out is lost profit. Emulation can help speed up that process."

Simulation users are increasingly using the systems to create and test designs, like the layout of a sorter that can be re-used in subsequent designs.

"The latest simulation systems allow them to save the designs as a base element that can be plugged in and modified for a future design," McGregor says. "That way they don't have to recreate the wheel every time they work on a new project."