Using discrete event simulation to design efficient logistics systems

Jiří Hloska, SDZ GmbH

Building of a new or reconstruction of an existing logistic system such as warehouse, cross-dock centre etc. comes together with significant investment costs into a system, which so far exists only as a blueprint. Though, given both the high costs into hardware (conveyor technology, robots, means of manipulation…) as well as software (PLC, WMS or other), not only the investor but also the provider of the technology needs to be sure the system is going to work as planned and be able to achieve target KPIs under every considered operational scenario. This article presents practical examples how to use discrete event simulation to create a model or even a digital twin of an industrial process that makes it possible to run experiments to evaluate the system behaviour under predefined conditions, event taking random and heuristic events into account.