Simulation of service-oriented and distributed manufacturing systems

In this paper modeling and simulation is discussed in the context of distributed manufacturing systems (DiMS). The DiMS concept aims towards efficient and innovative collaboration that integrates design and development activities of manufacturing systems. A DiMS, described formally as a digital manufacturing system, is a competent basis for the modeling and simulation of manufacturing systems. The activities of the simulation model are described on the basis of a service-oriented approach in which content of the services is completely known. Micro, meso, and macro manufacturing levels are applied to the modeling and simulation. By means of these levels the hierarchy of the communication of the services is illustrated. An example is described in which modeling and simulation is used to proceed from ideas to efficiently operated manufacturing systems.