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Error! Reference source not found.Figure 1 shows an overview of how the demonstration works.
Each element in this figure has been and will be explained in detail in this report. The whole
process, as shown in the Figure 1, is divided into two main phases, Development Stage and
Operation Stage, and they are explained below.
5.1 Development Stage
In Development Stage, information contained in the Factory Description XML file is used to
generate 1) a simulation model, 2) Lekin job shop scheduler (machine definitions and part
definitions), and 3) Wildcat order and inventory system. In this phase, essentially static
information is translated into the considered packages. At the end of this phase, the generated
simulation model is ready to be started.
5.2 Operation Stage
In next phase, Operation Phase, the major structure of the applications (e.g. resources and
products information in Arena simulation, Lekin job shop simulator, and Wildcat order and
inventory system) will not change any more. Only dynamic information (e.g. orders) will be
exchanged between different elements of the system.
6. Control Panel Developed For Demonstration
The main control panel of the demonstration, which is designed in VBA, is shown in Figure 16
and Figure 17.
Each figure corresponds to a different stage. Buttons 2, 3, 5 and 6 in the development stage
corresponds to different converters/translators that are explained in Section 9. Also, buttons 8,
9A, 11 and 13 in the operation stage correspond to convertors/translators that are explained in
Section 9. The screen captured movie files (avi version of the demonstration) is available in the
following web site:
http://www.sie.arizona.edu/faculty/son/NIST3.html
.
Complete functionality of buttons in the control panel is discussed in next two sections in details.
