Summary: | The shortcomings of traditional simulation are mainly due to limitation in model size, difficulty in obtaining accurate and timely data, long modelling cycle, lack of integration capability, and slow speed. Due to the different conditions under which simulation-based scheduling operates, these shortcomings have become more critical, especially when the system being modelled is large. In this research the simulation cycle is re-engineered using a novel 'direct database-simulation' (DDS) approach. This DDS approach simplifies the simulation modelling process, shortens the simulation cycle and provides the ability to update the simulation model automatically. The key to simplifying and automating the simulation cycle is to use the production relational database model of the job-shop as the simulation model itself.
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