Development of a manufacturing Applet's user interface to enhance its properties as a teaching tool

Abstract

A manufacturing system's design and operation plays a critical part is the cost, rate and quality of any product. As a result optimization techniques and cost benefit analysis are common practices in any industry involving manufacturing lines. Due to the prevalence of this field of engineering, Dr. Stanley Gershwin has developed a java applet to serve as a learning tool in teaching students about the processes that occur within manufacturing systems. Since these manufacturing systems are often large complex networks of machines and buffers, it can be difficult to critical component of the line and predict how changes in a component could affect the line as a whole. This thesis develops the framework for four different feedback systems which effectively teaches students how to approach problems commonly seen in industry. The 'Constant Buffer Size Tool' aids students in understanding how to optimally reallocate available space between buffers. The 'Buffer Sensitivity Tool' is able to identity which buffer capacity variances have the highest impact upon the line's production rate. The 'Machine Sensitivity Tool' can be used to help students locate bottlenecks throughout a line. Lastly, the 'Buffer Profit Tool' teaches students the relationship between the revenue of a production line and the costs linked to buffer capacity and hold inventory.