System development for establishing shipyard mid-term production plans using backward process-centric simulation

In this paper, we propose a simulation method based on backward simulation and process-oriented simulation to take into account the characteristics of shipbuilding production, which is an order-based industry with a job shop production environment. The shipyard production planning process was investigated to analyze the detailed process, variables and constraints of mid-term production planning. Backward and process-centric simulation methods were applied to the mid-term production planning process and an improved planning process, which considers the shipbuilding characteristics, was proposed. Based on the problem defined by applying backward process-centric simulation, a system which can conduct Discrete Event Simulation (DES) was developed. The developed mid-term planning system can be linked with the existing shipyard Advanced Planning System (APS). Verification of the system was performed with the actual shipyard mid-term production data for the four ships corresponding to a one-year period.