A simulation-based production testbed

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have been developing a simulation-based production testbed. This testbed contains continuous simulation models of production equipment and processes, and discrete-event simulation models of various production systems. In addition, it contains both commercial and prototype software applications that implement a number of production functions from order release to final inspection. This testbed provides an environment for the development and testing of interfaces which can provide an integrating infrastructure for these applications. These interfaces will be based on information models and exchange protocols, and will specify what information is shared across those applications and how it is exchanged. This paper describes the current state of the testbed, and the projects currently being conducted in the testbed.