A Petri net Approach to Bottling Line Modeling and Performance Analysis: A Case Study on Meta Abo Brewery Share Company
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Date
2004-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Increasing global competition has made many business leaders and policy
makers turn their attention to such critical issues as productivity and quality.
Businesses seek new approaches to production processes and manufacturing
techniques and explore new boundaries of technology. One of the frequently
prescribed remedies for the problem of decreased productivity and declining
quality is the automation of factories. To achieve strategic benefits of automation
in line with improved quality, greater flexibility, and cost reduction, firms must
carefully manage the implementation of their techniques.
In the light of the above, because of capital intensive and complex nature of
automated manufacturing system (AMS), the design and operation of these
systems require modeling and analysis in order to select the optimal design
alternative and operational policy. Besides, errors in the modeling process can
substantially contribute to the development time and cost. Therefore, special
attention should be paid to the correctness of the models that are used at all
planning levels. Petri nets as a graphical and mathematical tool provide a uniform
environment for modeling, formal analysis and design of manufacturing systems.
This study therefore, focuses on both traditional analysis of manufacturing
system after setting key performance factors and the application of Petri nets in
modeling and analysis of an AMS. It also includes a comprehensive review of
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Petri nets and manufacturing system in view of Petri nets application domain. ith
the view to give more emphasis in the practical and realistic industrial application
of Petri nets, particularly in modeling and analysis of AMS, a case study on an
existing manufacturing firm was carried. In this regard, Meta Abo Brewery S. Co
(MABSCo) is believed to serve as a model.
Above all, the success of Petri nets and related technologies can be greatly
achieved only when more industrial engineers and designers use them together
with other techniques in system development and operation. The author, being
an industrial engineer, develop the sample model attributed to the bottling line of
MABSCo through a careful study of relevant literatures, systematic data
collection, and after systematic survey of the plant, particularly the bottling line.
Further research in the future that includes other classes of Petri nets is also
proposed to make the study more complete.
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Mechanical Engineering