An Approach to Represent Material Handlers as Agents in Discrete-Event Simulation Models

This paper introduces an initial approach to represent human-driven, industrial-truck material handlers as agents in discrete-event simulation models of manufacturing systems. The approach is network based and involves material handlers creating work tasks for themselves based on the current states of the system, such as inventory in a production area and material availability in a supply area. The material handler integrates other work tasks with supporting the production lines. The approach leverages constructs currently available in simulation software and is implemented in FlexSim. An illustrative example is provided and the agent-based results are compared to traditional means for modeling material handling.