Course syllabus for Simulation of production systems

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSimulering av produktionssystem
  • CodeMPR271
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPPEN
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyMechanical Engineering
  • DepartmentINDUSTRIAL AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 34124
  • Maximum participants80
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0107 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Same as for the Production engineering programme, MPPEN.

Aim

The course vision is to provide an in-depth insight about the potential of the virtual world in industrial innovation processes. This includes establishing an improved awareness about methods and tools for the integration of simulation technology in product, process and production development work procedures. Simulation tools have proven to be very powerful in the development of sustainable production systems covering economic, ecologic and social aspects throughout entire product life-cycles.

The purpose of the course is to advance the students' knowledge and skills in development of production flows, specifically taking dynamic aspects into consideration. A specific aim is to build a model of a production system using professional discrete event simulation software. This model, combined with established theory, is then used to analyze production systems and provide recommendations improving the sustainability performance with focus on the economic and ecologic aspects.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

LO1: Explain the fundamentals of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) and determine in what situation it is a useful engineering tool.
LO2: Plan and perform a simulation project following a structured recognized project methodology for simulation of production flows.
LO3: Create a simulation model representing a complex production system using a professional DES software package and established modeling techniques.
LO4: Describe and apply techniques for input data management.
LO5: Plan, design, and perform experiments to improve a production system based on a DES model.
LO6: Evaluate various production improvement possibilities using a DES model and knowledge in production systems.
LO7: Describe and exemplify how DES studies can support increased sustainability of production systems.
LO8: Interpret and relate to state-of-the-art knowledge acquired from scientific papers.
LO9: Communicate and argue for the results of a production simulation study, for example using quantitative data, own analysis and judgments, and model graphics.

Content

The course covers the following topics:
- Theoretical basics of Discrete Event Simulation
- Discrete Event Simulation for Sustainable Production
- Systematic methodology for Discrete Event Simulation projects
- Theory and practice for building models with a professional DES-software
- Theory for collecting data, applied statistics and experimental design
- Theory of Constraints for analysis of production flows
- The virtual world as a visual communication channel for efficient Concurrent Engineering

Organisation

The course applies problem oriented pedagogy and the cornerstone for learning is a project work where the students cooperate in groups of two. In summary the learning activities are:
- Lectures: Basis for theoretical understanding and to support your project work.
- Programming lectures: To support learning in DES programming and develop skills in a professional software package.
- Introductive tutorial: Familiarize with the DES software and its user interface.
- Modelling exercise: Training in model building, preparation for examination project work.
- Project work: Practice skills learned throughout the course, show skills in communication, project methodology, DES programming, and analysis of production flows.
- Presentation: practice to communicate simulation-based results to industrial stakeholders.

Literature

- CoursePM
- Power-point presentations available at the course homepage
- Scientific Papers
- Software Manual.

Examination including compulsory elements

Passed exercises, project report including computer model code, presentation, and a written "knowledge test" cover all areas in the project examination. The grading scale is: 5, 4, 3 and failed.

Students must be approved on all assessment tasks individually (project, tutorial, modelling exercise, knowledge test, and presentation) to pass the course.

The results of the project report and simulation model are of outstanding importance for grading. The result from the written "knowledge test", which is mandatory, will serve as decision support in borderline cases. The quality of the presentation, summarizing project results to industrial stakeholders, is also used as decision support in these cases.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.