Simulation And Optimization Of Storage Area In The Engine Assembly Workshop Based On Witness

In the circumstance of economic globalization and unprecedented fierce competition in manufacturing,reducing the cost of products is a key link for manufacturing companies to gain an advantage in competition.With a large number of advanced manufacturing technologies have being introduced into the enterprise and have being fully utilized,it has become increasingly difficult to improve the profits through the improvement of production technology.Under this circumstance,as the third source of profit,the reduction of logistics costs has become the focus of attention by all enterprises.The motorcycle engine assembly line has the characteristics of complicated processing route and working procedure.A large number of parts was used in the assembly process,and the coordinated logistics requirements of each station is necessary in the assembly process.In the engine assembly shop,the workshop logistics is mainly divided into two aspects: the storage of parts and the distribution of parts.Improving these two aspects,logistics cost can be significantly reduced and corporate profits can be increased.Through observation and analysis in a motorcycle engine assembly shop,we found that the current storage in this workshop may lead to a low efficiency of picking goods and untimely delivery,etc.Since storage method has a direct impact on material distribution,based on theoretical researches and aiming at reducing shortcomings of current storage method,this paper starts with the design and planning of workshop storage area,proposes a new storage method,called “material supermarket”.The new method divide all the types of parts of motorcycle engines into two kinds,large size and small size through the parts specifications;the storage area was divided into small parts storage area and large parts storage area.The small parts still use the current dedicated storage method,while the large parts will be stored by the “material supermarket” scheme.Secondly,the layout of different “material supermarkets” in large parts storage area is solved by genetic algorithm to find the best scheme which has the minimum material flow.Finally,the simulation model of the engine assembly line is established by Witness simulation software.Compare and analyse the new model and old model,the new storage scheme has a certain effect on reducing the material flow and production logistics cost is proved.